Men's Basketball
Game Recap

Ben scores 23 and Washington Notches Double-Double in OT loss

January 30 2008

District of Columbia (10-7)  81
Kutztown (12-6)                  79  OT
BOXSCORE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Dave Ben scored 23 points and Ryan Washington had a double-double, but Kutztown came up short in an 81-79 overtime loss at the University of the District of Columbia Wednesday night.

Five players scored in double figures for the Firebirds (10-7), led by Frank Peterson with 18.  Don Powell scored 17 points and led all players with 14 rebounds.  Willie Shaw scored 16, while Antwon Hawkins notched 13 and Charlie Smallwood scored 11.

Ben's 23 points came on 7-of-19 shooting, with three 3-pointers and six free throws.  Washington scored 19 points and added 13 rebounds. Steve Coffey scored 10 points off the bench.  The Golden Bears played their second-straight game without leading scorer Stephen Dennis, who was sidelined due to injury.

Kutztown trailed through most of the game, and was down by as many as 15 in the second half before mounting a comeback.  Down 50-38 with 11:30 remaining, Washington scored the first four points in an 8-1 run to get KU back in the game.

The Firebirds, however, maintained their lead until Ben finally gave KU its first lead on a layup with 2:43 to play. 

Kutztown went up 65-62 with 27 seconds left on a pair of free throws by Coffey, but Hawkins sent the game to OT with a three pointer with 14 seconds left.

UDC went on a 9-2 run to start OT.  Kutztown cut the lead to three twice in the closing seconds, but the Firebirds hit 5-of-6 free throws to secure the win.  Mike Connolly hit a three pointer at the buzzer for the final margin.

The loss snaps Kutztown's six-game winning streak.  The Golden Bears return to action Saturday night when they host Cheyney at 8 p.m. at Keystone Hall.