SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team weathered a late push from the Shippensburg Raiders to come out with a 77-73 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference victory on Wednesday Night at Heiges Field House.
The Golden Bears (4-9, 1-6 PSAC) secured their first PSAC win of the season after building a 17-point lead through 30 minutes, and while the Raiders (5-9, 3-5 PSAC) were aggressive in their pursuit of a fourth conference win, Kutztown emerged victorious thanks to a well-rounded team effort.
Guard Jalen Bryant (Edgewood, Md./John Carroll) turned in his 11th consecutive double-digit scoring output with a 29-point performance to go along with five rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. His 14-for-15 free throw clip was highlighted late in the game, as the senior converted all six free throws in the last two minutes to secure the four-point win for the visitors.
The Golden Bear big men made noise down low, as Jordan Nkoa Abessolo (Yaoundé, Cameroon/St. Maria Goretti (Md.)) turned in a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Tyler Koenig (Waldwick, N.J./Pioneer Academy) came a rebound away from the feat in a 19-point, 9-rebound performance in 33 minutes of play.
Charlie Bell IV (Miami, Fla./The Phelps School (Pa.)) hit three triples and snagged five steals in some of his most impactful play of the season, while Juju Pagan (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) contributed six points and four rebounds in a winning effort.
The team's collective efficiency from the charity stripe may have been the difference, as KU drained 85 percent of foul shots compared to the Raiders' 78 percent clip. Kutztown dominated the glass (40-29), finishing possessions by turning an offensive rebounding advantage (15-6) into second-chance points, leading 21-6.
The Golden Bears look to carry the momentum into the weekend, when they are set to face West Chester at Hollinger Field House on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 4 p.m. They return to Keystone Arena for their first home game of the year against Mansfield on Monday, Jan. 13 at 5 p.m.
