Box Score (HTML)

BLOOMSBURG – A 14-6 burst over the final 52 seconds from the Bloomsburg University men's basketball team was not enough to overcome a 21-point second half deficit as Kutztown held on for an 89-85 victory on Saturday afternoon at Nelson Field House.
 
Kutztown (12-7, 9-4 PSAC) appeared to have things in hand when it pushed ahead 59-38 with 13:16 left to play following a 3-pointer from Ethan Ridgeway.
 
The Huskies (7-9, 3-9) refused to give up down the stretch, however. Down 76-61 with 3:21 remaining, Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) gave Bloomsburg life with a deep 3-pointer. The teams then exchanged baskets, but Alssene Saintilus (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) then drove inside and was fouled for a traditional 3-point play and an 80-69 score.
 
Saintilus took over in the final minutes of the game, again working inside on the next possession for another bucket in the lane to cut the game to single digits at 80-71 with 1:38 to go.
 
A Bloomsburg foul sent Tynell Fortune to the line for two shots and an 82-71 lead. Bloomsburg came up empty on its next trip down the floor and another foul allowed Fortune to hit one of two at the line for an 83-71 advantage.
 
Jon Riles (Philadelphia/Academy of the New Church) caught fire in the waning moments, hitting four 3-pointers in the final 41 seconds, but the explosion came too late as his last shot went through the net just before the final buzzer sounded.
 
Fast break points were the difference – Kutztown forced 15 turnovers, often resulting in easy buckets in transition as the Golden Bears owned a 20-6 advantage in fast break points.
 
Josh Johnson finished with a game-high 21 points to power Kutztown with Howard Sellars (16 points), Fortune (15 points) and Tyler Brooks (11 points) all finishing in double-figure scoring.
 
Saintilus had one of his best games of the year, posting a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds along with three blocks. Riles tallied 18 points as four Huskies scored in double figures – Mortellite netted 17 points and Moustapha Noumbissi (Upper Darby/Delaware County Christian School) also had 11.
 
Bloomsburg shot an impressive 50.9 percent (29-of-57) from the floor, but Kutztown hit 51.5 percent (34-of-66) of its shot attempts and held a narrow 32-30 edge in rebounding. The Huskies held tight thanks to nearly flawless foul shooting, hitting 20 of 21 attempts at the free throw line.
 
The Huskies are back in action on Wednesday night at home, hosting Millersville for a 7:30 p.m. start inside Nelson Field House.