Box Score
ERIE, Pa. – Ralph Hegamin scored a season-high 25 points and Kehinde Roberts added 13 as visiting West Chester upset previously unbeaten and 21st-ranked Mercyhurst, 63-58, Saturday afternoon in a non-league PSAC crossover men’s basketball contest.
West Chester (9-3) pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the conference by outscoring Mercyhurst (11-1) by a 40-19 margin in the second half. The Lakers held a 39-23 edge at halftime.
The Golden Rams began their comeback with a 15-5 run over the first seven minutes to open the second half, holding the Lakers scoreless for nearly four minutes during that stretch.
West Chester then outscored Mercyhurst 18-12 over the next 11 minutes to draw even at 56-all with 91 seconds left in the game on two free throws by Roberts. A layup by Hegamin, who then converted the three-point play with his foul shot, marked the Rams’ first lead of the afternoon with 62 ticks left on the clock.
"When we were down, we started to press and change the speed of the game to a more up-tempo style to create some easy baskets and try to get some run outs," first-year head coach Damien Blair said. "Our kids kept fighting and developed that confidence that they could come back."
Merychurst went cold in the final minute, missing three 3-point attempts and hitting just two of four from the foul line.
The Lakers dominated much of the first half, opening the contest on a 10-0 run and eventually opening up a 17-point cushion. The Golden Rams cut into the deficit, getting it down into single digits on a couple of occasions. But, the lead bulged back to 16 by the break.
West Chester’s inspired second half ran the team’s modest winning streak to two straight. It marked the fourth straight game that the Rams have played without junior guard Kenneth St. George.
"We switched defenses on almost every possession down the floor, and I think our match-up gave them some difficulty," Blair added. "(Mercyhurst) is a very good team with some excellent shooters. I don't know if they just had an off-night, or it was our pressure defense. But, I think it was probably a combination of both.
"Our kids just don't quit."
The Golden Rams continue their western swing Sunday afternoon with a 3 p.m. contest at Slippery Rock.
