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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – In a playoff-type atmosphere, Kutztown University and Shippensburg University put together lengthy runs at different points of the game. Shippensburg built its first lead of the game with a 15-0 run midway through the second half, but Kutztown ended the game on a 10-0 run to protect its home court with its 15th consecutive men's basketball home victory, 81-78, on Saturday at Keystone Arena.
 
In a back-and-forth affair between two of the best squads in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division, the Golden Bears had their backs against the wall, trailing by a game-high seven points (78-71) with 2:04 to play.
 
Coming off the bench late, Ryan Connolly (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) buried a corner three-pointer to cut the deficit to four (78-74) with 1:46 to play. Kutztown forced a Shippensburg turnover and the teams traded missed layups, giving KU the ball with 52 seconds left and down 78-74. Point guard Ethan Ridgeway (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) drove to the lane and kicked out to an open Connolly at the top of the key for Connolly's fourth 3-pointer of the game to put KU down one, 78-77, with 44 seconds left.
 
Shippensburg's Tony Ellis was called for traveling, giving KU a shot at the win with 23 seconds left. Ridgeway faked right and drove left to find a wide open Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) sitting under the basket. Ridgeway laid up the alley-oop and Johnson put it down to give the lead over to the Maroon and Gold, 79-78. 
 
After a missed jumper for Shippensburg, Connolly was fouled on the following possession. The long walk to line was intense, but Connolly ignored the pressure and hit both shots from the charity stripe. The Raiders had one final chance at sending the game to overtime, but a running 3-pointer from the top of the key went in-and-out.
 
Johnson was huge for the Golden Bears on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, as he finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Connolly was up to his old tricks, going 4-for-6 from beyond the arc and ending the game with 16 points.
 
Ridgeway was the main distributor of the ball with nine assists and two steals.
 
Anthony Lee (Willow Grove, Pa./Abington) and Anthony Selby (Jersey City, N.J./Williamstown (Burlington County CC)) were solid for the Golden Bears all around. Lee had 13 points and five rebounds while Selby had 12 points and a block. Selby was very efficient this game on the offensive end as he started the game with a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and finished 6-for-8.
 
Much of the game was decided in the paint, as physical play was the name of the game. In the end, Kutztown was able to edge out an advantage in points in the paint 42-38.
 
The Golden Bears were also able to out-rebound the Raiders 36-33.
 
Shippensburg found most of its offensive output from its big man Dustin Sleva, who had 26 points and 13 rebounds. Sleva single-handedly put Shippensburg on an 11-0 run midway through the second half that was capped at 15-0 to give Shippensburg a 64-60 lead, its first lead since 2-0.
 
The Raiders also received very solid play from their guards Antoni Kellem and Abe Massaley. Kellem scored 23 points and Massaley had 10 assists.
 
Kutztown will hit the road on Wednesday, Feb. 10 to face Bloomsburg for the second time this season. Tip-off will be at 5:30 p.m.