Men's Basketball
Game Recap

Ben posts 20 points as KU slips past Slippery Rock

December 18, 2007

KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Dave Ben (jr. Coatesville/Coatesville) scored 20 points and Stephen Dennis (so. West Chester/Henderson) had 17 as the Kutztown University men’s basketball team held off Slippery Rock in a 69-65 win Tuesday at Keystone Hall.

Slippery Rock (2-6) led for the majority of the first half of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover contest, but four straight points from Mark Bower (jr. West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford), who finished with 10 points, and a layup from Ben forged a 29-24 KU lead with 2:27 left in the first half. The Golden Bears (4-3) never trailed again despite their largest lead being six points.

KU built a six-point lead at 37-31 with 16:30 left in the second half, but Slippery Rock tied it at 39 three minutes later.

The Golden Bears again pushed their lead out to six at 51-45, but again, the Rock closed the gap to make it a one-point game, 56-55 with 6:09 left. And after a 3-pointer and two free throws from Ben put KU in front 61-55, Slippery Rock scored five straight points to cut it to one point again.

Dennis scored five points over the final 3:42 and two free throws from Steve Coffey (fr. Reading /Wilson) with 8 seconds left made it a two possession game.

KU struggled from the field, shooting 34.3 percent, including a 2-for-19 showing from beyond the 3-point arc. The Golden Bears, however, were stronger on the boards, outrebounding Slippery Rock 45-39.

Bower led KU in rebounds with eight, and newcomer Ryan Washington (r-fr. Glendale/Wissahickon) had seven rebounds and two blocks.

Ben had five steals and four assists to go with his 20 points.

Erroll Robinson led the Rock with 12 points, while Darnell Johnson and Jamar Scales had 11 apiece.

KU will return to the court Wednesday night for another PSAC crossover against Edinboro. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. at Keystone Hall following the women’s KU-Edinboro contest.