LOCK HAVEN, Pa. -- Before Saturday, the Kutztown University men's basketball team (6-17, 6-12 PSAC) had not entered the win column since Jan. 11. That changed in emphatic fashion on Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Bears snapped a nine-game losing skid in a dominating 98-61 win over Lock Haven (16-8, 12-7 PSAC).
The Golden Bears put up the most points they have in a game this season, starting off the contest with a blazing 52-28 first half. KU was surgical from the floor, shooting 53.6%, including a 10-23 mark from three-point range. The Golden Bears outplayed the Bald Eagles in almost every aspect of the game, securing the 37-point win, the largest margin of victory for KU since a win over Penn State Berks earlier last season.
Jalen Bryant (Edgewood, Md./John Carroll) had a spectacular game running the point for KU, recording a double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Bryant's six threes were also a career-high. Robert Tucker (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Robeson) also ended with another double-double, netting 23 points while grabbing 10 boards.
Josh Samec (Tresckow, Pa./Hazleton) found his groove early in the contest, ending with 16 points and seven rebounds, including a 4-7 mark from three-point range. Kyle Whippen (Arlington,Va./Westfield) also had his best game in the Maroon and Gold. The sophomore, who transferred from Fairmount State in the offseason, netted a season-high 13 points and grabbed five rebounds.
Wesley Butler (Reading, Pa./Reading), Kyree Generett (York, Pa./William Penn), and Kameron Roberts (Townsend, Del./Middletown) rounded out the scoring for KU.
It's a massive win for the Golden Bears, who beat Lock Haven for the first time since Jan. 6, 2020. KU still sits outside the playoff picture but keeps its chances alive with five regular-season games remaining.
The Golden Bears return to Keystone Arena on Monday, Feb. 13 against Goldey-Beacom. It's the make-up of the postponed contest between the two teams originally scheduled on Nov. 22. That contest will kick off at 7 p.m.
