KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Three from Kutztown men's basketball finished in double figures in scoring, but KU played from behind for all but the first 2:24 of the game and could not overcome Georgian Court, dropping a non-conference game Saturday afternoon 76-70 at Keystone Arena.
The Golden Bears (0-4 overall) are still searching for their first victory on the year, but have been within just six points in all four games.
Wesley Butler (Reading, Pa./Reading) tied a game-high with 19 points and shot 50% from the floor (8-for-16).
Robert Tucker (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Robeson) completed his first double-double on the year, scoring a season-high 18 points and grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds.
Jalen Bryant (Edgewood, Md./John Carroll) added 15 points, including going 8-of-9 from the free-throw line.
Kutztown took an 8-6 lead off a layup by Tucker and assist from
Josh Samec (Tresckow, Pa./Hazleton) 2:09 into the game. But the Lions (2-2) hit a three-pointer on their ensuing possession from Shane Williams to take their first lead of the day, 9-8, and never trailed the rest of the way. They took a double-digit lead (27-16) with 11:27 left in the first half and went up by as many as 13 twice, the last was 33-20 with 8:06 to go until halftime.
KU climbed back and found itself trailing by just three points, 39-36, going into the locker room.
Georgian Court opened the second half scoring the first seven points to go back on top by double figures. The Maroon and Gold kept it within single digits the rest of the way, however, and got to as close as one at 55-54 with 8:56 remaining. But the Lions, who shot 47% from the floor in the second half, including 33% from long distance, didn't back down and kept the lead the rest of the way.
Kyree Generett (York, Pa./William Penn) had five points, three rebounds and three assists. Samec and
Kameron Roberts (Townsend, Del./Middletown) each tallied four points and three rebounds.
Brendan Boyle (Allentown, Pa./Notre Dame) recorded three points and four rebounds and
Ryan Glassmacher (Stewartsville, N.J./Bethlehem Catholic (Pa.)) rounded out the scoring with two points.
Kutztown remains at home for another non-conference game before taking a break for Thanksgiving. KU hosts Goldey-Beacom on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m., at Keystone Arena, following the women's game against Chestnut Hill at 5:30 p.m.
