KUTZTOWN, PA (February 28, 2010) – The Kutztown University men's and women's basketball teams have qualified for the 2010 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoffs.

The women will open at home for the first time since 1998 when it hosts Bloomsburg University at Keystone Arena. Meanwhile, the men will travel to face Mansfield University at Decker Gym. Both games will be played on Tuesday March 2, 2010 beginning at 7 p.m.

Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $2 for students. However, students from member institutions will be admitted free with a valid I.D. Fans will have an opportunity to pre-purchase tickets for the women's home game Monday March 1 from 1-4:30 p.m. and Tuesday March 2 from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m. in Keystone Hall Room 112.

On the women's side, this will be the fifth playoff meeting all-time between Kutztown (18-9 overall, 9-5 PSAC East) and Bloomsburg (16-10, 8-6) and first since 2001. The Golden Bears are 1-3 against Bloomsburg in PSAC playoff action. Kutztown's only victory over Bloomsburg in a PSAC playoff game was a 61-59 decision in 1999 in a game played at Kutztown.

This season, Bloomsburg won both meetings against the Golden Bears. The Huskies claimed a 46-45 victory at home on Jan. 30 and a 72-67 decision on the road Saturday afternoon. This will be Bloomsburg's first trip to the PSAC playoffs since the 2004-05 season. Kutztown is making its second consecutive appearance in the PSAC playoffs.

The other women's first round matchups feature West Chester (18-9, 8-6) at Millersville (23-4, 13-1), Edinboro (16-11, 7-7) at Gannon (30-0, 14-0) and Indiana, Pa. (17-9, 10-4) at California (21-6, 11-3). The quarterfinal winners will advance to the Final Four, which will be hosted by the highest remaining seeded team in the West.

On the men's side, Kutztown and Mansfield will also be meeting for the fifth time in the PSAC playoffs. This also a rematch of last year's first round game won by Kutztown, 97-86, at Keystone Arena. The Golden Bears are 2-2 all-time against Mansfield in PSAC playoffs. The teams met three consecutive years in the PSAC playoffs from 2004-06 all at Mansfield.

Kutztown (21-6, 8-6) and Mansfield (19-8, 10-4) split a pair of meetings with each team winning on its home floor. Mansfield scored the final nine points at Decker Gym to hand Kutztown its first defeat of the season, 94-87 on Jan. 20. The Golden Bears defeated Mansfield, 81-69, at Keystone Arena on Feb. 11. In two games against Mansfield this season, senior guard and Division II national player of the year candidate Stephen Dennis (West Chester, PA/Henderson) averaged 36.5 points per game. Kutztown is making its eighth consecutive appearance in the PSAC playoffs under head coach Bernie Driscoll.

The Mountaineers took the top seed by virtue of their split with Kutztown, while East Stroudsburg, which tied for first place with Mansfield, lost twice to the Golden Bears.

The other men's first round matchups feature Cheyney (16-11, 9-5) at East Stroudsburg (23-4, 10-4), reigning PSAC champion Gannon (12-14, 7-6) at Indiana (24-2, 12-1) and Mercyhurst (18-9, 8-6) at Clarion (17-10, 9-5). The quarterfinal winners will advance to the Final Four, which will be hosted by the highest remaining seeded team in the East.

NOTES: The women's game between Bloomsburg and Kutztown will be shown live on KUTV. The men's game can be heard live on the Golden Bear Radio Network.

--KU--