Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Elie Daniel posted 18 points and Ralph Hegamin 14 to lead visiting West Chester to a 58-53 upset of host Philadelphia University in a non-league men’s basketball contest at the Gallagher Center Wednesday night.
The win was extra special for the Golden Rams (6-0) with former head coach Dick DeLaney sitting on the PhilaU bench serving as an assistant to legendary coach and close friend Herb Magee.
DeLaney retired after 21 years along West Chester’s sideline as the school’s all-time winningest coach with 370 career victories. However, it was one of his former star players, who stole the spotlight Wednesday night while guiding the new fortunes of the Golden Rams. Damien Blair succeeded DeLaney has head coach last winter and has led his alma mater to 24 wins against 10 losses.
PhilaU ended the game on a 10-5 run, but ran out of time as West Chester upped its season-opening win streak to six straight. Philadelphia University fell to 6-3 on the year.
Daniel registered his best night yet as a Golden Ram thanks to a perfect first half that saw him go 4-for-4 from the field, including 3-for-3 from beyond the 3-point arc. Daniel put up 13 of his 18 points in the first half.
However, the story of the night was PhilaU’s inability to knock down shots in the second half. The Rams shot just 18.2 percent (4 of 22) after halftime and scored just 19 points, enabling the Golden Rams to erase a three-point PhilaU lead (34-31).
Hegamin led West Chester with nine rebounds.
West Chester continues its road swing on Saturday to take on Chestnut Hill at 1 p.m.
