KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Omari Banks (Middletown, Del./The Phelps School (Pa.)),
Jalen Bryant (Edgewood, Md./John Carroll) and
Yahmir Satterfield (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) combined for 36 second-half points as the Kutztown University men's basketball team outscored Lock Haven by 21 over the final 20 minutes to claim its first PSAC victory, 70-61, Saturday afternoon at Keystone Arena.
The Bears overcame a sluggish first half in which they shot just 7-of-29 and fell behind by as many as 19 points by heating up to make 17 of their final 30 field goals and stun the Bald Eagles.
Lock Haven (3-9, 1-6 PSAC) still had a comfortable advantage when Blake Deegan connected on a three to make it 51-37 with 11:51 remaining, before Kutztown (4-7, 1-5 PSAC) stormed back with a 22-5 run over the next 7:36.
Bryant tied the game at 56 with 5:55 to go on a deep three from the right wing. Just under a minute later, following a successful coach's challenge by
Tom York to negate a turnover, Banks drove through the Bald Eagle defense to finish at the tin for KU's first lead since the opening minute of the game.
Deegan tied the game at 59 on another 3-pointer with 4:03 to play, but Satterfield answered for the Bears on their ensuing possession by popping free for a triple from the right wing. Banks and
Jordan Nkoa Abessolo (Yaoundé, Cameroon/St. Maria Goretti (Md.)) made big shots down the stretch, Nkoa Abessolo finishing off Lock Haven with a two-handed slam in the final minute.
The Bald Eagles committed six of their 12 turnovers during Kutztown's second-half run to take the lead. The Golden Bears tied a season-best with only eight giveaways.
Bryant recorded his fourth straight 20-point game with a game-high 21, including four 3-pointers. The graduate student guard also had three steals.
Nkoa Abessolo just missed another double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds. Banks had 13 points, nine boards and six assists. Satterfield finished with 13 points.
Kutztown played a complete second half to outscore Lock Haven, 47-26. The Bears shot 17-of-30 overall (56.7%), including 5-of-11 from deep and 8-of-10 at the foul line.
Deegan led Lock Haven with 18 points off the bench on 6-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. Dean Coleman-Newsome (12), Dyllon Scott (10) and Keith Warren (10) also finished in double figures for the visitors.
The Golden Bears will go for their third win in a row when they travel to West Chester Tuesday evening for a PSAC East clash at 7:30.
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