CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team saw its undefeated record to start the season take a hit, as it fell short at California (Pa.) University 89-87 Saturday afternoon at Hamer Hall in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) season-opener.
 
The Golden Bears (2-1 overall, 0-1 PSAC) led 39-37 at halftime, and were ahead to start the second half. But a 57-55 advantage with 12:51 remaining was the last time KU found itself out in front.
 
The Vulcans (3-1, 1-0) turned it around and went ahead by as much as nine points twice in the second half, with the latest at 74-65 with 7:32 to go.
 
Kutztown would tie it at 76-76 with 3:10 left, and after the two teams traded baskets, California found itself up 88-84 with 0:26 remaining.
 
Senior Ethan Ridgeway (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin), who had a game and career-high night scoring 40 points, connected from long range to cut the deficit to one at 88-87.
 
Two missed Vulcans free-throws gave the Maroon and Gold a chance to win it, but as the clock ticked under 0:10, a California steal sealed the deal.
 
Ridgeway's 40 points in 39 minutes of action are the most points scored in a single game by a KU player since Stephen Dennis scored 42 points in Jan 2010.
 
Ridgeway went 10-for-10 at the free-throw line and finished with four assists and three steals.
 
Dan Cuevas (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) tallied a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Lee (Willow Grove, Pa./Abington) also finished in double-figures in scoring with 13 points, and also had five rebounds and three steals.
 
Moe Williams (Townsend, Del./Life Center Academy) had five points and six rebounds, and Josh Townsend (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) grabbed six rebounds. Rafiq Marshall (Philadelphia, Pa./Simon Gratz (Cheyney)) chipped in seven points.
 
California outrebounded KU 41-33.
 
Kutztown returns to the court tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 19 with another PSAC matchup at Slippery Rock University at 3 p.m.