Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Lance McDowell netted a game-high 21 points, and Khalif Foster had 17 off the bench as host West Chester University rode a tremendous second half effort to an 85-76 victory over visiting Wilmington University in the season opener for both schools.
West Chester (1-0) scored 55 points in the final 20 minutes of play on the strength of 59.4 percent shooting from the field (19 of 32). Wilmington (0-1), who shot 50 percent in the first half en route to a 44-30 lead at the break, went cold in the second half, shooting just 33.3 percent (10 of 30).
Miguel Bocachia’s 3-pointer with eight minutes left gave West Chester its first lead of the game (57-54) – a lead it would not relinquish – and capped a 12-0 run by the Golden Rams that got them back into the contest.
Shannon Givens followed Bocachia’s 3-ball with a three of his own that continued the Rams’ run that eventually climbed to 22-1 and gave the hosts a 67-55 advantage with 5:41 remaining.
West Chester’s defensive effort picked up as a result of the hot shooting at the other end of the floor. The Golden Rams held the Wildcats without a bucket for 7:10 during that decisive run. Wilmington went 0-for-8 from the field, including 0-for-3 from 3-point range in that span.
Bocachia finished with 13 points while Givens chipped in 12 to go along with seven assists. Foster posted a double-double in his West Chester debut, adding 10 rebounds to his 17 points.
The Golden Rams made 5 of 7 from 3-point range after the break, including Bocachia’s and Givens’ back-to-back three’s, which were daggers in the heart of Wilmington.
Isiah Mason led the Wildcats with 18 points, and teammate Coyre Payton added 16.
West Chester hits the road on Tuesday for a non-league tilt at University of Sciences. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
