MANSFIELD, Pa. – The Kutztown University men's basketball team stayed close to their opponent but fell short in an 87-78 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference outing against the Mansfield Mountaineers on Saturday afternoon at the Marion Decker Gymnasium.
The Golden Bears (7-14, 3-11 PSAC) showed their ability to limit long-range scoring while forcing ten lead changes before they let the game slip into the control of the Mountaineers (7-14, 4-10 PSAC).
Kutztown was the first to take control, going on an 11-0 run in the game's first six minutes to build a 21-11 advantage. Mansfield finished the half scoring five of the final eight baskets to go along with six free throws, holding a 41-36 lead at the intermission.
The Golden Bears, however, would not go away quickly, as it was a one-point game after a Jalen Bryant (Edgewood, Md./John Carroll) triple triggered a 13-9 stretch to bring the visitors nearly even with Mansfield. Kutztown snatched the lead for the first time in the second period with a series of points from the senior guard to put them up by one, but the Mountaineers used free throws to secure their victory in the final three minutes.
Bryant led the way with 22 points and five steals in 37 minutes of play. The senior guard shared the court for much of the game with forward Jordan Nkoa Abessolo (Yaoundé, Cameroon/St. Maria Goretti (Md.)), who had 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and three steals. Jaiden McGhee (Townsend, Del./Middletown) tallied 13 points and seven rebounds, while forward Amir Cunningham (Middletown, Del./Middletown) had 10 points and three steals.
The Golden Bears recorded 13 steals on the afternoon while leading the game with 56 of their 78 points in the paint. Kutztown split the season series with Mansfield, as each team defended its home court against their opponent. Bryant's season scoring tally now sits at 446 points, the highest mark of his career.
The Golden Bears are set to host conference foe Lock Haven inside Keystone Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 7:30 p.m.
