UDC Loses Close Game to Kutztown, 82-76
Washington, DC: December 9, 2009-The Kutztown University Golden Bears defeated the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds Men's Basketball Team, 82-76, in a close contest tonight at the Sports Complex. Senior guard Stephen Dennis paced the Golden Bears to the win with a 26-point, 4 rebound performance. Kutztown, ranked 8th in the country among Division II schools, improved their record to 5-0 with this win.
Four Kutztown players were in double figures for the game, including Dennis. Joining him were junior forward Ryan Washington with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists. Junior forward Tamir Johnson chipped in 12 points, and 4 rebounds, while junior guard Julius Gray added 10 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 2 steals.
Kutztown opened the scoring with a tremendous dunk by Dennis. The score stayed close early in the first half until Kutztown opened it up with a 9-0 run at the 11:50 mark to take a 10 point lead.
UDC whittled the lead down to a 5 points before Kutztown went on another 9-0 run with 5:57 remaining in the half to make the score 35-25. After a couple of scoring exchanges, Kutztown closed out the half with a 41-30 lead on 50 percent (17 for 34) field goal shooting as the lead changed 8 times.
Dennis opened the second half with a layup to take the lead up to 13, but UDC freshman guard Keith Brooks (Harlem, NY) canned a 3-pointer with an assist from freshman guard Kenneth James (Arlington, VA) to bring the lead down to 8.
Kutztown later increased the lead to 21 points with 8:21 remaining, but UDC rallied with several runs until junior forward Gani Cole (Clinton, MD) make a layup and a free throw at the 5:11 mark to cut the lead to 7. Kutztown got the lead back up to 10 on two free throws by junior guard Steve Coffey.
Sophomore guard Nigel Munson (Washington, DC) made a layup with 14 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 8, and then Brooks hit a three-pointer with 5 seconds remaining to close the lead to 5 points before Washington made a free throw for Kutztown to end the game.
Brooks led the Firebird scoring with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal, followed by Munson with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. Sophomore forward Chris Leach (Washington, DC) added 14 points, and 6 rebounds.
Kutztown shot 56 percent (33 for 59) from the field for the game to UDC's 39 percent ( 29 for 75). UDC made good on 68 percent (15 of 22) shooting from the charity stripe to Kutztown's 59 percent (13 of 22). Kutztown shot 38 percent (3 for 8) from behind the arc, while UDC shot 21 percent ( 3 for 14).
UDC is 0-8 after losing several close contests, including tonight's. They look to get their first win of the season on Friday, December 11, at Alderson- Broaddus College in West, Virginia.