KUTZTOWN, Pa.-- The Kutztown University men's basketball team (7-17, 6-12 PSAC) used a 25-6 scoring run in the final 7:50 of the game to capture a thrilling 80-73 comeback victory over non-conference foes Goldey-Beacom (10-15, 7-7 CACC) Monday night at Keystone Arena. The matchup was a rescheduled game from the postponed contest between the two teams on Nov. 22.
The Golden Bears trailed for 97% of the game, overcoming a deficit as large as 13 points to take their first lead of the game with 1:06 remaining in the second half. The comeback was sparked by two seniors in Wesley Butler (Reading, Pa./Reading) and Kyree Generett (York, Pa./William Penn). With 1:36 remaining, Butler sank a three to make it a 73-72 game. After a defensive stand, Generett drained a three from the left corner to give the Golden Bears their first lead of the game, which they did not surrender.
KU locked down defensively in the final few minutes, sparked by the big man Kyle Whippen (Arlington,Va./Westfield) down low, who ended the game with four blocks and three steals to go along with season-high 15 points. The Lightning did have multiple possessions to get back into the game down the stretch, but the Golden Bears' defense did its thing, forcing low-quality shots en route to the victory.
Generett led the scoring for KU, netting 24 points, which included a 4-5 mark from three-point range and a 10-11 mark from the charity stripe. Jalen Bryant (Edgewood, Md./John Carroll) scored 19 and grabbed five boards. Butler was massive off the bench for Bernie Driscoll's squad, scoring most of his 16 points in the second half.
Kameron Roberts (Townsend, Del./Middletown) and Josh Samec (Tresckow, Pa./Hazleton) were the other Golden Bears to score in the contest. Samec played his part beneath the basket, grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.
For Goldey-Beacom, Damani Thomas led the scoring with 21 points in 38 minutes of action. Zayon Marsh ended with a double-double, netting 17 points while snagging 11 boards.
After snapping an eight-game skid over the weekend against Lock Haven, the Golden Bears have won back-to-back games for the first time since late December. The win over a good Bald Eagles squad, matched with Monday's comeback win gives KU some big momentum heading into the final four games of the regular season.
The Golden Bears kick off the home stretch of the season on the road Wednesday night against East Stroudsburg, who are receiving votes in the NABC Coaches poll. That game against the Warriors will tip off at 7:30 p.m.
