Video Replay (KUTV) | WFMZ Highlights
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team utilized its talented fast-break offense to build an early 15-point lead over Cheyney University in the first five minutes of Monday night's game. The 19th-ranked Golden Bears never looked back from the early lead in a 98-66 win over Cheyney University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup from Keystone Arena.
The Golden Bears (11-2, 7-2 PSAC East) led for the entirety of their seventh-straight win over the Wolves (1-12, 1-8). They shot an even 50 percent from the field – their third-straight game making at least half of their shots – and limited Cheyney to 39.7 percent while forcing 28 turnovers.
Kutztown raced out to scoring 21 points in the first five minutes en route to a 21-6 lead. The run evened out after KU moved to its second unit, as the teams played virtually an even remainder of the half. Cheyney outscored KU 24-20 over the final 15 minutes and trailed Kutztown 43-30 at the break.
Back to its starting five on the floor, KU opened the second half on a 19-5 run to break out a 27-point lead with 13:53 to play. The lead grew to 35 in the final minutes as KU picked up its third straight win.
KU was +20 in scoring differential when its starting lineup was on the floor.
Anthony Lee (Willow Grove, Pa./Abington) posted a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds. He entered the game leading the PSAC in 3-point percentage at .583, and added on to his potential record-breaking mark with a 4-for-6 performance from downtown Monday night. In 27 minutes of action, he added a career-high three blocks with three steals.
Lee is averaging 21 points per game over the last four games, and has 2+ steals in each of the last seven.
Dan Cuevas (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) proved extremely effective in transition once again, shooting 8-for-13 for 21 points – his second straight 20-point game. He added six rebounds.
Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) finished with 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line. He rounded out his stat-line with six rebounds, four assists and two steals in 25 minutes.
Ryan Connolly (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) capped KU's double-digit scorers with 11 points, including three 3-pointers. He added a career-high-tying four steals in 26 minutes.
Ethan Ridgeway (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) dished out six of his game-high nine assists in the first half to remain the PSAC leader in assists per game. As a team, Kutztown had 27 assists on 37 field goals (73 percent).
Off the bench,
Josh Townsend (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) was active on the boards in his season-high nine minutes. He grabbed six rebounds. Seniors
Martin Dietrich (Maytown, Pa./Donegal) and
Howard Sellars (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area (Saint Peter's)) each added five points off the bench, while
Austin Beidelman (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) tallied four assists and no turnovers in 14 minutes.
Zahir Stewart scored 17 points for Cheyney, followed by Amir Boney with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Third-place Kutztown looks ahead to playing first-place East Stroudsburg University (11-3, 9-0) on the road on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m.
