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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team will look to extend its winning streak to eight games against West Chester University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) bout inside of Keystone Arena this Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Kutztown (15-2, 11-2 PSAC) has been on a tear since a defeat to Shippensburg University all the way back on Dec. 30. Since the loss, the Golden Bears have won their last seven games, all of which have been over PSAC competition, for their first seven-game winning streak since November and December of 2014. KU has not won eight in a row since December 2011 – February 2012.
The winning streak has boosted Kutztown to No. 11 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Basketball Poll – the Maroon and Gold's second-highest ranking in 2016-17. KU was slotted No. 8 in the Nov. 29 edition of the poll.
Kutztown's two losses this year have come to teams now ranked in the top-six as the aforementioned Shippensburg moved up to No. 5, while Indiana (Pa.) jumped up to No. 6.
The top-two teams in the rankings remained unchanged for a fourth straight week, with top-ranked Northwest Missouri State receiving 12-of-16 first-place votes and No. 2 Fairmont State receiving the other four. Along with Shippensburg, the trio are the only three unbeatens remaining in the NCAA. West Liberty and California Baptist each moved up one position to third and fourth, respectively.
Notably, with Wheeling Jesuit ranked No. 9, the Atlantic Region features six of the top-11 teams in the poll.
Wednesday's contest will be telecasted on KUTV by the University's electronic media department. Fans can watch the game on Service Electric Cablevision Channel 24 and 524 (HD), Hometown Utilicom Channel 191 in Kutztown and eastern Berks Country, and Service Electric Channel 266 in the Lehigh Valley. All games are also available through KUTV's webcast.11
KU has been led by its starters this season, as the unit has averaged exactly 71 points per game. For perspective, the Golden Bears are third in the PSAC at 87 points per game, which means the starting five of
Anthony Lee (Willow Grove, Pa./Abington),
Ethan Ridgeway (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin),
Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown),
Dan Cuevas (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) and
Ryan Connolly (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) have scored 81.6% of the team's offensive production this season.
Ridgeway has been arguably the most complete player on the roster this season, as he is tied for second on the team in points per game (14.5), is fifth on the team in rebounds per game (4.4) and is the team's top distributor as 8.2 assists per game, which leads the PSAC and ranks fourth in the NCAA.
The Maroon and Gold have had no issues this season with putting the ball in the basket, as they are atop the PSAC in field goal percentage (49.5%) and second in three-point percentage (40.7%).
West Chester (8-10, 6-7) will be led by former PSAC Freshman of the Year Malik Jackson, who is averaging 20.5 points per game. The Golden Rams have also seen some recent production from fellow guard Tyrell Long, who missed the first eight games of the season. Since returning to the lineup, Long has averaged 19.8 points per game. The combination of Jackson and Long will push the Kutztown defense to show extra attention to the backcourt-duo.
West Chester has won two of its last three games and will look to remain in fourth place in the PSAC East. Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield all sit in a tie for fifth in the conference at 5-8.
Last year, Kutztown and West Chester played on three seperate occasions and the Golden Bears were victorious in all three contests. Notably, the Maroon and Gold advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Atlantic Regionals courtesy of a 76-63 victory over the Golden Rams.
Fans attending Wednesday night's game – don't forget about KU's "Bears Give Back" food drive campaign. Anyone who brings one non-perishable food donation to any of the basketball games will be given a ticket that can be redeemed for a free hotdog or bag of chips at the concession stand. Cash donations are also accepted. This is the last opportunity to do so as the drive will be ending after Wednesday's game.
