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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Fresh off its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Championship, the Kutztown University men's basketball team is set to host Shippensburg University in a PSAC quarterfinal game Tuesday, March 1 at 7 p.m.

The Golden Bears (21-5, 18-4 PSAC) are the top-ranked seed out of the East while the Raiders (19-8, 15-7) enter the game in the No. 4 spot.  Kutztown will hold home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, including hosting the Final Four if it advances on Tuesday night.  It would be the first time in school history that Kutztown hosts the Final Four at Keystone Arena.

The two teams split the season-series, with Shippensburg picking up a 78-70 home win on Dec. 19 and Kutztown following it up with a home win of its own, 81-78 on Feb. 6.  Forward Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) led the Golden Bears in scoring in each game, finishing with 21 and 17-point performances. Johnson also led KU in rebounding both games. KU has won four of its last five games again Shippensburg, including a 77-54 win in the opening round of last year's postseason. 

Kutztown won its season-finale against then No. 17 ranked West Chester University, 81-77.  The Golden Bears got a balanced scoring attack, with six players finishing in double-digits.  Anthony Lee (Willow Grove, Pa./Abington) led the offense with 16 points.  Johnson chipped in 15, while Austin Beidelman (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) and Ryan Connolly (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) both added 12.  Senior Will Adams (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep (McMurry)) had his breakout game of the season in his first start, finishing with 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds.  Ethan Ridgeway (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) rounded out the scoring with 10 points.

Shippensburg got to this point after defeating Bloomsburg University, 80-78, in the PSAC First Round on Saturday. Junior Abe Massaley hit a layup with 0.8 seconds left on the clock to give the Raiders the opening-round victory.  Massaley led SU's offense in scoring, finishing with 17 points and 11 assists.  Dustin Sleva chipped in 16 and added 16 rebounds.  Tony Ellis also finished with a double-double, with 10 points and 11 boards.  It was the first playoff win in 10 years for Shippensburg.

Kutztown enters the game with the second-highest scoring offense in the PSAC, averaging the second-highest total in school history at 85.4 points. KU's offensive has been highly-efficient on the year, shooting 48.1 percent from the field (fourth in PSAC).  The Golden Bears have the second-rated defense in opponent field goal percentage, allowing teams to shoot just 40.6 percent.  Kutztown has been a force on the glass, averaging 41.1 rebounds (second). 

Shippensburg isn't too far behind in scoring, averaging 78.1 points (fifth in PSAC).  The Raiders shoot 44.7 percent (seventh) while holding teams to 42.6 percent shooting (also seventh).  Teams score an average of 73.5 points against SU (11th). 

Kutztown has been led by stellar play by Johnson throughout the season.  The junior averages 14.6 points (15th in PSAC), 8.6 rebounds (fifth), and 1.4 steals per game.   Lee and Connolly are right behind with averages of 13.1 points.  Connolly is one of the best 3-point shooters in the PSAC, hitting 45.7 percent (63-of-138) of his attempts (third).  Anthony Selby (Jersey City, N.J./Williamstown (Burlington County CC)) averages 1.3 blocks per game (fifth) and 1.4 steals to lead the way on defense.  Lee averages 1.5 steals (11th).

Shippensburg finished the regular season with four scorers averaging double-digits.  Dustin Sleva has led the way on offense, averaging 15.6 points (10th in PSAC).  Massaley averages 13.8, Antonio Kellem adds 11.6 while Justin McCarthur chips in 10.  Sleva leads the PSAC in rebounding with an average of 11.3 per game.  Five Shippensburg players have double-digit blocks.   

Kutztown finished last year's playoffs with a 2-1 record, dropping to Gannon in the semifinals.  Tipoff against Shippensburg is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Keystone Arena.

The winner of Tuesday's matchup witl face the winner of Clarion/Mercyhurst in the semifinals on Saturday, March 5.

Following this week's conference championship, KU will learn its NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday, March 6 during the live selection show at 10:30 p.m.  The show will be aired live online at NCAA.com.