KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown's Kyree Generett made a layup on a 2-on-1 break at the buzzer to lift homestanding Kutztown to a 94-92 men's basketball victory over visiting West Chester inside Keystone Arena Monday afternoon.
West Chester (8-4, 3-4 PSAC) held a 15-point lead with 7:34 left, but went cold from the field down the stretch as Kutztown (5-9, 2-6) mounted its comeback. The Golden Bears outscored the Golden Rams, 29-12, over that decisive stint to close out the contest.
West Chester inbounded the ball in Kutztown's end with 24 seconds left and the game tied at 92. However, two missed jumpers from short range, followed by a defensive rebound, left Kutztown with the ball with :06 left. The Bears' ensuing outlet pass started the game-winning 2-on-1 break.
Evan-Eric Longino hit Generett (20 points) cutting to the hoop, and the senior guard converted the fastbreak layup for the win.
The Golden Rams missed their last four shots from the field and were 1-for-9 in the final 3:11 of the game. Meanwhile, the Golden Bears made two of its final three shots and knocked down all six free throw attempts in the last two minutes. The hosts ended the game on a 10-2 run powered by Jalen Bryant's six points and Generett's four.
The final three minutes were a window into the overall second half struggles for West Chester, which shot 52.5 percent from the field (21 of 40) in the first half, but just 35.9 percent (14 for 39) in the second.
West Chester raced out to a 55-41 lead by halftime on the strength of its hot shooting. The Golden Rams went on a 13-0 run over a 2:29 stretch midway through the first half that turned a tie game (30-all) into an advantage that the visitors would maintain until the break.
Cam Polak's (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) 3-pointer at 8:28 started the rally while
Jamil Manigo's (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) traditional 3-point play ended the rally with 5:59 left.
Matt Dade (Collegeville, Pa./Episcopal Academy) led all scorer's with a game-high 21 points. He also grabbed eight rebounds. Polak finished with 19.
Moro Osumanu (Reading, Pa./Reading) led West Chester with nine boards.
Kyle McGee (Jersey City, N.J./St. Mary's of the Assumption) and Manigo each had 10 points off the bench.
Michael Smith III matched Generett's 20 points for Kutztown while Channick Nkoma chipped in 15 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
West Chester returns home to Hollinger Field House for a doubleheader with the women's team against Millersville. The men's game tips at 7:30 p.m.
