MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Trailing by two points less than 0:10 remaining, the Kutztown University men's basketball team found two straight opportunities to tie the game or take the lead, but could not finish them as KU was defeated 74-72 Wednesday night in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Divisional game at Millersville.
The Golden Bears (7-16 overall, 4-13 PSAC) had a shot by
Evan-Eric Longino (Furlong, Pa./Germantown Academy) rim out with 0:05 to go and then got a rebound by
Robert Tucker (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Robeson) on the other end of the floor after a missed Marauders (20-4, 14-4) free-throw, but turned it over before they could get a last-chance shot up.
Millersville extended its win streak to 11 games and sits in first place in the East, but Kutztown, which has lost six straight since its 69-68 victory over then first place Shippensburg on Jan. 24, fought back from a slow start, down by double figures in the first half and had an opportunity at a road win.
There were seven ties and five lead changes in the game. Millersville's biggest advantage was 15 points (27-12) with 8:16 left in the opening half. Kutztown cut its deficit to just six (37-31) at halftime and took its first lead of the game after a Longino shot from long range with 13:31 to play.
The Maroon and Gold had their lead rise to as many as six (53-47) after a layup by
Wesley Butler (Reading, Pa./Reading) with 10:52 on the clock.
Akeem Taylor Jr.'s (Chester, Pa./Chester) layup with 4:00 left put KU ahead 67-65, but the Marauders scored the next six points and never gave up their lead the rest of the way.
Michael Smith III (Chester, Pa./Chester) led the way with a game-high 22 points and added four rebounds. Taylor Jr. tallied 15 points and Longino recorded 10. Butler had nine points, while Tucker contributed nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Kutztown remains on the road for its next game this Saturday, Feb. 12, at Shepherd. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
