Kutztown (15-7, 7-1 PSAC
East) 94
MANSFIELD, Pa.
— Dave Ben
scored 25 points to lead Kutztown to a 94-91 win over
Mansfield, moving KU into first place in the Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division.
KU (15-7, 7-1 PSAC East)
moves a half-game ahead of the Cheyney Wolves, whose game against East
Stroudsburg on Wednesday was postponed to Thursday due to
inclement weather. Mansfield falls to 15-8 overall, 3-5 in
the division.
The teams were evenly matched,
shooting 47 percent from the field and from the 3-point
arc. The difference came at the free-throw line, where KU
was 29-of-38, while Mansfield was 12-of-19.
Ben was nearly perfect
from the free-throw line, hitting 13-of-14 attempts.
He brought his career total for free throws made to 320,
breaking KU's career free throws record of 317 set by Jeff
Brickus (2000-04). Stephen Dennis and Nate Edwards scored 17 points
each, while Andre Woodlin added 14.
Kevin Hill scored 24 points for
Mansfield, which also got double figures from John Hampton
(16) and Yuseff Carr (12).
KU led 36-34 at halftime
and extended its lead to as many as 12, 71-59, midway
through the second half. The Golden Bears' lead was
79-69 with 4:07 to play when Mansfield began its final
comeback attempt.
The Mountaineers hit three
3-pointers and two other baskets to pull within 89-85 with
41 seconds left. Two free throws by Ben made it a
six-point game, but Chris Pender hit three free throws to
whittle the lead to three with 27 ticks left.
After Steve Coffey went
1-for-2 from the line, Pender missed a 3 and Mansfield's John
Hampton lost the ball with eight seconds left. Woodlin
made it 94-88 with a pair of charity shots to ice it.
Hill's 3 with three seconds left decided the final margin.
The win, which gives KU a
season-sweep of the Mountaineers, was KU's first at
Mansfield since a PSAC Quarterfinal victory at Decker Gym in
2004. KU had lost five straight there since, including two
subsequent playoff games.
The Golden Bears host Bloomsburg
at 3 p.m. Saturday at Keystone Hall. KU can clinch
a playoff spot on Saturday with a win.
