KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Bloomsburg University men's basketball team will go for a third straight victory when it travels to Kutztown on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies enter the game at 10-6 overall and 6-1 in PSAC East play while Kutztown stands at 5-12 on the year and 3-4 in conference play.
Bloomsburg will look to shake a long losing streak at Kutztown, having not won at KU since 2002. Kutztown, however, has struggled on its home court this year – the Golden Bears are 1-8 at Keystone Arena.
The Huskies won 77-76 at West Chester and 86-70 over Mansfield in their previous two games over the past week.
SCOUTING KUTZTOWN
The Golden Bears won at Shippensburg, 62-58, on Wednesday after dropping close games at Lock Haven (62-58) and Millersville (77-73) in its previous two contests. Kutztown scored its first home victory of the year in its last game at Keystone Arena, a 76-74 win over Cheyney on Jan. 11.
Three players are strong scoring threats for KU – Tracy Peal (15.6 ppg), Josh Johnson (12.1 ppg) and Austin Beielman (10.5 ppg) all average double figures. Tyler Brooks averages 14.0 ppg but has been sidelined since Dec. 7 with an injury.
Kutztown has struggled mightily shooting long range this year, shooting just over 25 percent from long range, the lowest such mark in the PSAC, and also struggles at the line, shooting 65.3 percent at the charity stripe. Kutztown ranks 12th in the conference in scoring offense (67.4 ppg) and 13th in scoring defense (74.4 ppg allowed).
THE BLOOMSBURG-KUTZTOWN SERIES
Bloomsburg leads 106-49
Bloomsburg scored an 85-80 win in overtime at Nelson Field House on Feb. 23, 2013 the last time these teams met.
Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown/Norristown) poured in a career-high 34 points, 25 of which came during the second half and overtime, and scored the final five points of the game.
Wes Lyons (Millville/Millville) added 17 points and 11 rebounds for BU.
Kutztown's Keystone Arena has been a house of horrors for the Huskies – Bloomsburg has lost 11 straight games at Kutztown, with its last win coming on Jan. 23, 2002 when Adam Bohman's 24 points and Aaron Carter's 16 led the Huskies to a 70-61 win. Since then, the Huskies have lost eight of those 11 games by single digits, including four by three points or less. This year's senior class came close to leaving KU with a win in 2012, but the Golden Bears hit a last-second 3-pointer for a 56-55 win on Feb. 18, 2012.
TWEETABLES (Huskies facts in 140 characters or less)
-
Alssene Saintilus (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) posted his first double-double as a Husky on Wednesday vs. Mansfield (17 points, 10 rebounds).
-
Dontahe Jordan (Williamsport/Williamsport) recorded his second straight double-double on Wednesday (10 points, 11 rebounds).
-
Jon Riles (Philadelphia/Academy of the New Church) handed out nine assists this past Wednesday, his most in a Huskies uniform and one off a career-high.
-
Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown/Norristown) enters Saturday tied for third all-time in BU history for 3-pointers with 205, one away from second.
-Saintilus is averaging 15.3 points per game against PSAC East competition, highest of any BU player.
MAKING HIS PRESENCE FELT
Preseason All-PSAC East selection
Dontahe Jordan (Williamsport/Williamsport) has made his presence felt since returning to the lineup last Saturday. Sidelined for six games this season due to injuries, Jordan leads the Huskies in scoring (14.5 ppg) and rebounding (8.1 rpg) on the year and has put together back-to-back double-doubles since returning at West Chester. Where Jordan's impact has been largest has been on the glass – the Huskies own a +6.9 rebounding margin with Jordan in the lineup, but that number changes to a -7.0 margin when Jordan has been out.
SERVING IT UP
Junior guard
Jon Riles (Philadelphia/Academy of the New Church) has led the Huskies in assists 11 times this year, and continues to move up among the PSAC leaders in assists. Riles handed out a season-best nine assists vs. Mansfield and has three or more assists in seven consecutive games.
HIGHWAY ROBBERY
Sophomore guard
Charles Haigler (Charles Town, WV/Hargrave Military Academy) is among the leading steals men in the PSAC this season, averaging 1.5 steals per game. Entering Saturday, Haigler has at least one steal in 15 straight games. The season-opener at Chestnut Hill on Nov. 8 is the only game Haigler did not record a steal.
