KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown men's basketball led a valiant second-half, come-from-behind effort after trailing by double digits at halftime, but could not make it all the way back in dropping its second straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division home game, 87-77 Saturday afternoon against Lock Haven at Keystone Arena.
The Golden Bears (5-9 overall, 5-4 PSAC) are still 3-2 at home in conference.
Both
Kyree Generett (York, Pa./William Penn) and
Robert Tucker (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Robeson) had double-doubles for KU, the first time a duo has recorded a double-double in the same game this season. It was the seventh this season for Tucker and the first of Generett's career, leading the team with 19 points and grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds. Tucker tallied 16 points and 11 boards.
Two other Golden Bears finished with double figures in scoring, including a season-high 14 points for
Kameron Roberts (Townsend, Del./Middletown).
Jalen Bryant (Edgewood, Md./John Carroll) added 10 points for the Maroon and Gold.
Kutztown opened the game strong, scoring 10 of the first 14 points in the first 3:45. But Lock Haven caught fire in a big way, going on a 36-17 run the remaining 16:15 of the opening half to build a 40-27 advantage at halftime. KU trailed by as many as 15 points three times, the latest, 50-35 with 15:24 remaining.
The Golden Bears, however, slowly began to chip away at their deficit and pulled to within just five points (78-73) with 1:33 to go. That was the closest they would get, however, as the Bald Eagles (11-3, 7-2) went 7-for-8 from the free-throw line to keep their lead at at least two possessions the rest of the way.
Kyle Whippen (Arlington,Va./Westfield) totaled seven points.
Brendan Boyle (Allentown, Pa./Notre Dame) had five points.
Josh Samec (Tresckow, Pa./Hazleton) and
Will Meeker (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) each added three points. It was the first basket of the season for the freshman Meeker, a 3-pointer in the second half.
Justice Shoats and James Price both led the way with 23 points apiece for Lock Haven, leading a quartet in double figures.
Kutztown's next two games are on the road as it first takes on Mansfield next Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m.
