Video Replay (BUTV)

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – The sixth-ranked Kutztown University men's basketball team won its 15th game in a row and second-straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division title Wednesday night. KU turned strong defense into easy offense as it scored 23 points off turnovers in its 85-79 win over Bloomsburg University on the road at Nelson Field House.
 
The division title is Kutztown's second in a row and sixth in the last 10 years – all under head coach Bernie Driscoll. KU has clinched at least a share of the 2017 title and can win it outright with a win over West Chester on Saturday. KU matches its second-longest winning streak in school history at 15, and broke the school-record with its 19th PSAC win of the season.
 
KU has won six of its last seven against Bloomsburg and won its 23rd game of the season Wednesday night, tying last year's team as the third-most wins in program history.
 
The win also sealed KU the No. 1 seed in the East for next week's PSAC Tournament.
 
Kutztown was forced to overcome just its fourth halftime deficit of the year, and did so by outscoring Bloomsburg by seven, shooting 60 percent and making 12-of-13 free throws in the second-half.
 
For the game, Kutztown shot 52.4 percent from the field and made 15-of-17 free throws. Four Golden Bears scored in double figures, led by Ethan Ridgeway (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin)'s 19 points, 11 assists, four rebounds and four steals. Best of all – he made all 10 of his free throws.
 
Ridgeway dished out 10+ assists for the eighth time this season, while also posting his sixth double-double of the year.
 
Anthony Lee (Willow Grove, Pa./Abington) soured with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting with five rebounds.
 
Josh Johnson (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Dan Cuevas (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) rounded out KU's double-digit scorers with 14.
 
Kutztown was forced to overcome its largest deficit in a month. Bloomsburg opened up strong on its home floor to lead by nine in the first four minutes, KU's largest hole since trailing by 11 in the team's first meeting on Jan. 18.
 
KU regained the lead with an ensuing 17-4 run over the next 6+ minutes to take a 22-18 lead – its largest lead of the half. Lee scored nine points during the run. Bloomsburg ended the half on a six-point run to lead Kutztown 42-41 at the break – the fourth time in 25 games this season that KU has trailed at the half.
 
Trailing by four in the opening minutes of the half, KU responded with a 14-2 run to lead 57-49 with 14:42 to play. KU forced three Bloomsburg turnovers during the run for its largest lead of the game at the time. KU led by multiple possessions for the remainder of the game.
 
Bloomsburg's Yahmir Greenlee and Christian Mortellite combined for 49 points, led by Greenlee's 28.
 
Kutztown closes its regular season on Saturday, Feb. 25 at West Chester University at 3 p.m., and will host a PSAC Quarterfinal game on Wednesday, March 1 at 7 p.m.