KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team was in search of its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division victory, and with the standout play of Tarojae Brake (Coatesville, Pa./Octorara), Wesley Butler (Reading, Pa./Reading) and Akello Mosby (Philadelphia, Pa./Carver), KU broke a halftime deadlock, and turned it into a 77-73 win over Lock Haven University Monday night inside Keystone Arena.
 
The Golden Bears (6-7 overall, 4-3 PSAC) snapped a two-game losing streak and received scoring contributions from nine different players, and 10 total saw action on the floor for head coach Bernie Driscoll.
 
"Tonight was a big game for us as a team," said Brake. "We've been struggling a little bit lately as a team, and even me personally. It was just a good win for us and something we can use moving forward."
 
The trio of Brake, Butler and Mosby led the way, each scoring in double-figures for Kutztown. Butler tallied a game-high 21 points on 9-of-15 (60-percent) shooting from the floor. Brake netted 18 points, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line to pace a KU unit that finished the game a flawless 10-for-10 at the line. The junior added three rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. Mosby recorded his first double-double of the year and just the second of his career, the first one coming almost this time last year during his freshman season on Jan. 9, against Edinboro. The sophomore finished with 10 points and career-highs of 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals.
 
Mosby was on fire to start the game, scoring six of the first eight points (Brake had the two others), as KU took an 8-0 lead after just 2:45 ticked off the clock. KU held a lead for the majority of the first half as the teams found themselves in a tie seven different times throughout the opening 20 minutes, even going into the locker rooms all knotted up at 36-36.
 
There were two separate ties within the first 3:44 of the second half as the teams traded baskets. With the score tied at 40-all, the Bald Eagles (4-7, 1-6) scored six straight and held a lead until the 11:48 mark.
 
Following a Butler jumper to put KU up 73-70 with 0:36 remaining, a nice defensive stand on the other end by KU allowed it to push its advantage even more, as Ryan 'Boz' Bernstein (Bronx, N.Y./Marianapolis Prep) was fouled and connected on both free-throw attempts for a 75-70 edge. LHU hit a three-pointer to make it close, but Butler closed it out with two free-throws of his own.
 
"We just wanted to get after it defensively because that's where it all starts," said Brake. "We looked to make stops and then get out and run and push the ball down court. And that worked for us."
 
Bernstein finished with nine points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Michael Smith III (Chester, Pa./Chester) had eight points on 3-of-5 shooting, including 2-for-3 from long range, and added three assists. Facundo Arens (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Bahia Blanca) contributed four points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks. KyAire Sumpter (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) tallied three points and a career-high three blocks, and both Josh Townsend (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) and Kyree Generett (York, Pa./William Penn) finished with two points. Townsend added two rebounds and one steal.
 
Kutztown hits the road after a four-game homestand and will take on Millersville University on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 7:30 p.m.