Box Score BOX SCORE

KUTZTOWN—The Bloomsburg University men's basketball team (17-8, 13-7 PSAC) lost on a last second three pointer to Kutztown University (16-8, 13-7 PSAC), 56-55.  With the loss Bloomsburg drops to number two in the PSAC East while Kutztown moves into first. 

Bloomsburg got off to a fast start, going up 13-4 behind three made three pointers, two coming from Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown/Norristown).  Kutztown would respond with five straight points, cutting the lead to just four points with 14:03 to play in the first half.

The Huskies responded with back-to-back baskets from Trevon Johnson (Snow Hill, MD/Snow Hill) and Christmas to go back up by eight points.  It would eventually lead to an 8-2 run for the Huskies that put BU up 21-11 at the 10:15 mark. 

Kutztown would regroup to piece together a 9-2 run, bringing the score to 23-20 with 4:53 left in the half.  BU would remain on top by three points just over two minutes later with the score at 27-24 before BU scored the final four points of the half to take a 31-24 lead at the break. 

Christmas and Dontahe Jordan (Williamsport/Williamsport) paced the Huskies in the first half, combining for 15 points.  Christmas scored eight on 3-of-3 shooting while Jordan added seven. 

Bloomsburg would see their lead fizzle as Kutztown opened the second half on a 12-2 run to take their first lead of the game since the 19:23 mark of the first half.  BU's Christmas ended the run with his third three pointer of the game to tie things up at 36 apiece with 14:58 to play. 

The final 14:58 of play could not have been played any more equal as it produced 13 lead changes (seven for Bloomsburg and six for Kutztown) and seven ties.  A four point lead by Kutztown was the largest lead by either team during this time. 

Fast-forward to the 4:11 mark, the game is tied at 49-49.  BU's Johnson hits a free throw one second later to complete a three point play, giving BU a 50-49 lead.  40 seconds later Kutztown reclaims a one point lead behind back-to-back free throws by Nate Edwards.  A little over a minute later Nnamdi Njoku (Westampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) put BU back on top with a three pointer.  

Kutztown's Edwards misfired on a three pointer but an offensive board Demerik Weglinski kept the possession alive and eventually led to a foul by Larry Webster (Hagerstown, MD/Elkton).  Eric Brennan would connect on one of two free throws, cutting the BU lead to just one with 1:21 to play. 

Bloomsburg's Christmas turned the ball over on BU's next possession, leading to made jumper by Brennan as Kutztown took a 54-53 lead with 44 seconds to play.

The Huskies would turn to Jordan on their next possession.  Jordan missed a layup on the possession but would grab his own rebound before Webster was fouled with 16 seconds left. 

Webster would make good on both free throws to put BU up by one point.  Five seconds later Kutztown called a time out to draw up one final play.  With eight seconds left, Micah Fraction missed a three pointer but grabbed his own rebound.  With just two seconds left Fraction launched another shot, this time it would go through as time expired, leading to a Bloomsburg loss.

Christmas led the Huskies in scoring with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting including a 4-for-5 mark from beyond the arc.  Webster added another 10 points while Jordan scored nine points along with eight rebounds and three blocks. 

Kutztown was led by Eric Brennan and his 23 points and eight rebounds.  Tyler Brooks added another eight points and 10 rebounds.

Bloomsburg will look to bounce back as they host East Stroudsburg at the Nelson Field House this Wednesday, February 22nd.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.