2009 Tournament Bracket
Erie, Pa. - Kutztown, which shot over 60 percent from the floor in scoring over 100 points in its semifinal win over Slippery Rock, was held to just 38 percent shooting by the PSAC’s top defensive team, Gannon, and despite another big game from Kutztown’s Stephen Dennis, the Golden Knights topped Kutztown 80-65 for capture the PSAC men’s basketball championship in their first year in the league.
Four players scored in double figures for the Golden Knights, who scored exactly half of their points, 40, inside the paint. Joe Lindsey and Kyle Goldcamp each scored 16 points to lead Gannon while Tyler Stoczynski had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Pierre Howard also scored 14 for the Golden Knights. One night after scoring 32 points, which included 28 in the first half, Dennis had another big game, as he scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds before fouling out with under a minute to play. Dave Ben scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds but after Dennis and Ben, the rest of the Kutztown team combined for just 23 points. The Kutztown bench contributed just nine points compared to 16 for Gannon’s bench.
It was a back-and-forth game for the first five minutes of the first half. But from that point, Kutztown went on a 15-2 run to open up a 12-point lead with 9:59 remaining in the half, capped by a three by Dennis. The Golden Bears would lead by 12 on two more occasions in the first half, but after another jumper by Dennis at the 6:28 mark put the Bears up 30-18, Gannon ended the half on an 18-7 run to pull within one, 37-36 at the half.
Gannon took a one-point lead on a Goldcamp tip-in with 15:24 remaining in the second half. The Golden Knights would never trail again but it remained a close game throughout most of the second half, as Gannon had only a one-point lead as late as 5:22 remaining after a Dennis three-pointer pulled Kutztown to within one, 57-56. However, from that point, Gannon ended the game on a 23-4 run to put the game away and wrap up its first PSAC championship.
Kutztown was hurt by its 19 turnovers, compared to just 10 for Gannon. The Golden Knights went just 1-for-8 from three-point range but dominated the inside game, getting 40 points in the paint to just 20 for Kutztown. For Kutztown, the loss snapped a 15-game winning streak, as the Bears had not lost since January 14 vs. East Stroudsburg.
Despite the loss, Kutztown’s season is likely not over, as the Golden Bears should get a bid to next weekend’s NCAA regionals, as will Gannon with the PSAC’s automatic berth. Pairings will be announced on Sunday night beginning at 9:00 p.m. on www.ncaa.com.