KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Playing in its first game at home since Feb. 29, 2020, which was also the last game overall, the Kutztown University men's basketball team came out full of energy. But Lincoln University outscored KU 32-24 over the final 10:40 after the scored was tied at 50, to take down Kutztown 82-74 Friday afternoon in the second game of a doubleheader of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference/Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association at Keystone Arena.
 
The Golden Bears (0-1 overall) tied the game, 50-50, on a layup by junior Wesley Butler (Reading, Pa./Reading), but the Lions (1-0) then scored five straight points and never trailed in the second half, taking a double-digit advantage of 67-57 with 6:40 to play, and never looked back. Kutztown pulled to within just one basket after freshman Jalen Bryant (Edgewood, Md./John Carroll) converted on a jumper to cut the deficit to 73-70 with 2:18 to play.
 
Bernard Lightsey of Lincoln made a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, however, and the Lions went 4-for-5 from the free-throw line in the last 0:52 to ice it.
 
Kutztown's largest lead came after a Channick Nkoma (Libreville, Gabon/Lycee National Leon M'ba) layup in the paint that put his team ahead 27-18 and 6:42 remaining in the first half. Lincoln quickly dug out of the early hole and finished the half on a 17-4 run to lead 35-31 at halftime.
 
Nkoma and Butler connected on back-to-back possessions for the Maroon and Gold to start the second half and tie the score at 35-all. The teams would trade baskets over the next three combined possessions, highlighted by a soaring, two-handed, power dunk by Moe Williams (Townsend, Del./Life Center Academy (N.J.)) off a nifty pass from Nkoma. Kyree Generett (York, Pa./William Penn) and Evan-Eric Longino (Furlong, Pa./Germantown Academy) connected from deep on back-to-back offensive trips to tie the score at 48-48 with 11:55 to go.
 
Lincoln shot 59.38% (19-of-32) from the floor in the second half, compared to 39.39% (13-of-33) for KU. Each team hit six three-pointers. Kutztown made 20-of-25 free-throws, while Lincoln was 8-for-13.
 
Williams led the KU offense with 21 points and added nine rebounds, while Longino and Generett both added 13 points, with the former grabbing eight boards. Butler also scored in double-figures with 11, also adding six rebounds and two steals. Nkoma had eight points, six rebounds and two blocks, and Bryant recorded seven points and five assists.
 
Kutztown will look to bounce back and record its first victory of the 2021 campaign when it takes on Elizabeth City State tomorrow, Saturday, at 3 p.m. The Vikings were defeated by West Chester, 85-71, in game one of the challenge Friday.