LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Playing in his first competitive action in nearly three years, graduate student Moe Williams (Townsend, Del./Life Center Academy (N.J.)) looked to never have missed a beat in his return to the court, leading all scorers with 27 points as the Kutztown University men's basketball team held a double-figure, second-half lead, but fell by a basket, 78-76, Saturday afternoon in an exhibition game at Division I Rider University.
 
The Golden Bears never trailed in the first half, scoring the game's first eight points and opening on a 16-4 run in the first 4:34. KU's largest first half lead came on a three-pointer by Williams to stake to a 42-25 advantage with 1:50 to go. The Maroon and Gold found themselves ahead 43-29 at halftime.
 
The Broncos opened the second half scoring the first seven points to cut their deficit to just seven. Kutztown remained strong through the first 10 minutes of the second half and held onto its lead until a three-pointer at the 11:10 mark gave Rider its first lead, 55-53.
 
The two teams would see six different ties and trade leads throughout the next seven-plus minutes until a Rider dunk with 4:31 remaining put it ahead 70-68, a lead it held onto the rest of the way. Another Williams long range effort pulled KU to within one at 77-76 with just 0:04 left, but Rider collected a missed free-throw attempt the ensuing possession and was a benefactor of a missed KU three-point attempt as time expired.
 
Williams had the 27 points as well as 11 rebounds and five assists. Evan-Eric Longino (Furlong, Pa./Germantown Academy) tallied 16 points and six rebounds, and Wesley Butler (Reading, Pa./Reading) also scored in double figures with 13 points. Robert Tucker (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Robeson) recorded nine points and three rebounds.
 
Kutztown will open its regular season slate on Friday, Nov. 12, against Lincoln University at 3 p.m., from Keystone Arena as a part of the PSAC/CIAA Challenge. KU will host Elizabeth City State the following day, also at 3 p.m.