MBSK1-31-01

ESU-Kutztown Men's Basketball

EAST STROUDSBURG - Juwan Justice scored 24 points and Gabe Crowley 20 as East Stroudsburg University broke open the game in the second half to defeat Kutztown, 77-62, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division men's basketball game Wednesday night.

The Warriors trailed at halftime, 36-33, but took charge early in the second half. With the score tied at 42, they ripped off seven straight points with Crowley scoring the first four on two free throws and a driving layup, Jon Kelley sinking a free throw and Justice converting a fast break basket after a pass from Shahad Abdur Rahkman.

The Golden Bears rallied and trailed by only one point at 51-50 with 10:57 to go when ESU put together a 13-1 scoring run to break it open at 64-51 with 4:48 left. Rahkman started it off with a jam, after a steal by Crowley, and two free throws. Then Justice finished it off with a pair of 3-pointers.

Justice connected on 8 of 14 field goals attempt, including three 3-pointers in five tries. He saw his consecutive free throw streak end at 21 straight when he missed his first of the game and was 3 for 5 from the line. He was the team's top rebounder with nine.

Crowley was 8 for 17 from the floor, with two 3-pointers, and 2 for 2 from the line. He also fed off a team-high six assists. Wayne Bishop added 13 points and Rahkman had an another strong overall game with seven points, five rebounds and four assists.

Reggie Cox led Kutztown with 16 points with Jeff Brickus and Kevin Handy scoring 11 apiece. Handy was held six points under his scoring average on sturdy defensive play by ESU center Jon Kelley.

With the win, the Warriors moved over the .500 mark both overall at 10-9 and in the conference at 3-2. Kutztown is now 4-14 overall and 1-4 in PSAC action.

Rahkman 2 3-4 7, Majeski 0 0-0 0, Smith 0 0-0 0, Justice 9 3-5 24, Crowley 8 2-2 20, Kostic 0 0-1 0, Bishop 5 1-2 13, Fedorka 0 0-0 0, Kelley 0 1-4 1, Collins 1 0-0 2, Wimmer 1 0-0 3, Georges 1 5-6 7 Totals: 27 15-24 77

Brickus 4 2-2 11, Cox 5 3-5 16, Handy 5 1-2 11, Smith 2 1-2 7, Manfra 0 2-2 2, Kotrri 3 0-0 6, Suez 3 1-2 9, Tooles 0 0-0 0 Totals: 22 10-15 62

Three-Point Goals: ESU - Justice 3, Crowley 2, Bishop 2, Wimmer; Kutz - Cox 3, Smith 2, Suez 2, Brickus

Halftime: Kutztown, 36-33