Millersville, Pennsylvania - Millersville scratched and clawed its way to within six points of No. 13 Kutztown with just under three minutes remaining in Saturday's PSAC East match-up. But Kutztown held off the Marauders the rest of the way for an 81-67 final.
Millersville (5-12, 4-9 PSAC) trailed by as many as 19 in the game but closed the gap to two possessions on two occasions late in the second period. The first came when
Tom Townsend hit a runner to make the score 71-65 with 3:27 left. After Kutztown's Ryan Connolly responded with two foul shots,
Jordan Greene followed a miss with a putback, keeping Millersville within six. But the Marauders could get no closer. The Marauder shots would not fall and Kutztown pulled away at the free throw line.
Kutztown (15-2, 11-2 PSAC) outscored the Marauders 8-0 over the final 2:27. Millersville missed its final four shots and committed two turnovers while the Golden Bears made their only field goal and sank 6-of-7 free throws in the same stretch.
Millersville held Kutztown to its lowest point output in nine games.
Cornell Yarde II led Millersville with 16 points and seven assists. Greene totaled 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Amadou Kaba added 11 points, three steals and two blocks.
Kutztown opened its largest lead during a four-minute stretch in the first half. Leading 24-19, Kutztown received a 3-pointer from Anthony Lee, starting a 16-2 run over the next 4:36. The Golden Bears made 6-of-7 shots while Millersville made 1-of-4 and committed four turnovers. Millersville, however, answered by closing the first half on a 7-0 run.
Over the first nine minutes of the second half, Millersville outscored Kutztown 22-15, and
Marcus Adkison's bucket with 10:48 left in the game pulled Millersville to within five at 58-53. Kutztown immediately ripped off a 9-1 run to open the lead to 13. Millersville's 11-4 run over the next 4:47 brought Millersville to within six for the first time.
Greene scored 10 of his points in the second half. He has scored in double figures in four consecutive games and in five of the last six.
Millersville hosts Cheyney on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
