UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The seventh-ranked Kutztown University men's rugby team scored the first 27 points of the match and then held on to a rally to earn a top-10 victory over eighth-ranked Penn State University 34-24 last Saturday at Penn State.
 
The Golden Bears (4-1 overall, 2-0 Rugby East) remained undefeated in the Rugby East Conference and now positioned itself well to win the conference title as they took down a fellow undefeated contender in the Nittany Lions.
 
KU opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Aaron Gray (Washington, D.C./Perry Street Prep) scored in the corner of the try zone. In the eighth minute, Tai Kauwe (Orem, Utah/Pleasant Grove) sidestepped defenders on route to a 20-yard score under the posts. Then in the 37th minute Keyon McCloud-Holman (Philadelphia, Pa./Benjamin Franklin) barreled over the try line as the Maroon and Gold went to halftime ahead 22-0.
 
Then just seven minutes into the second half, Daquan Perry (Philadelphia, Pa./Conestoga) tallied his first try of the day and KU was up 27-0 and in control.
 
Penn State then found a groove, scoring in the 45th, 57th and 60th minutes to make the contest close again. But Gray found the try zone for the second time of the day to halt any Nittany Lions momentum.
 
Thorne O'Connell (Johannesburg, South Africa/Jeppe) recorded three conversions and one penalty kick.
 
Kutztown will be at home for its next match this Saturday, Oct. 19, at 1 p.m. against Notre Dame (Ohio).