Bloomsburg Falls to Kutztown in Men's Basketball

KUTZTOWN —Bilal Salaam's dunk with 5.8 seconds left proved to be the difference as Kutztown defeated Bloomsburg, 77-75, in men's basketball action.

Kutztown led 75-73, with 2:17 to play in the game after Jeff Brickus hit two free throws for the Golden Bears. The Huskies got to within one when Jason Benson (Pittsburgh/Schenley) hit one of two from the foul line with 1:57 to play, then tied the score at the 1:08 mark when Seth Scott hit one of two free throws.

On Kutztown's next possession, the Golden Bears missed a shot, but got the rebound giving them a fresh 35-seconds on the shot clock. Brickus then worked the clock down to under 10 seconds when he drove the lane and dished to Salaam for the game-winning basket with 5.8 to play.

After a timeout, Bloomsburg inbounded the ball and called time at half-court with 2.9 to play. However, on the throw-in the ball bounced off the hands of Benson and out of bounds giving the Golden Bears the win.

Bloomsburg trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half, 28-17, before going on a 13-2 run to knot the game at 30-30. Benson scored six points in the rally for the Huskies.

The Golden Bears, though, closed out the half with a 14-5 run and went into the locker room leading by nine, 44-35.

In the second half, the Huskies used a 10-0 run over a three-minute stretch to go from down one to up one, 55-54. Brian Holsey (Philadelphia/J.R. Masterman) and Seth Scott (Waynesboro/Waynesboro) each scored four points in the Bloomsburg rally.

Over the final 10 minutes of the game the teams traded leads and were also tied seven times setting up the exciting finish.

Seth Scott led the Huskies with 19 points, while also pulling down eight rebounds. Benson added 15 points, while Ryan Nenstiel (Nuremburg/Weatherly) chipped in with 13 and John Owens (Philadelphia/Abington Friends) 10.

Salaam finished with a career-high 27 points and 15 rebounds, while Frank Moultrie added 16 and Tyree Brickus 12 for the Golden Bears.

Bloomsburg, 6-13, 1-4 in the PSAC East, will be in action next Wednesday at Cheyney at 8 p.m.