Box Score
CALIFORNIA, Pa. – Cory Blake and
Eddie Mitchell led a frantic second half comeback, but West Chester was not able to overcome an 18 point deficit and lost 69-64 at California, Pa., on Tuesday night inside the Convocation Center.
The Golden Rams (6-3) scored a season low 21 points in the first half,
Troy Hockaday led the way scoring all nine of his points in the first 20 minutes. The Vulcans (6-3) never trailed in the contest, and scored the final eight points in the half to take a 36-21 lead into the break.
West Chester shot 33% from the field on 9-27 shooting, was 2-7 from the free throw line and made only one of its five three point shots in the half. Cal connected on eight of 16 from beyond the arc with Tynell Fortune leading the way hitting on all three of his attempts.
The second half didn't start any better for the Golden Rams who had only 29 points in the first 30 minutes of the game, and trailed 47-29.
Mitchell and Blake keyed and eight point run to bring the lead back to ten with over eight minutes to go, but Fortune made all eight of his free throw attempts in the next four minutes, and the lead was at 12, 60-48 with 4:44 to play.
Mitchell hit a three and a layup to spark a 13 to four run to cut the lead to 64-61 with 1:54 to play after a
Matt Wisely layup.
The Golden Rams were not able to capitalize on a Vulcan turnover, and the lead was back to five after a pair of free throws.
Shannon Givens trimmed the lead back to three with 25 seconds remaining but West Chester could not score again and fell 69-64.
Mitchell scored 15, all coming in the final 10 minutes. Blake led the Golden Rams with 17, 13 coming in the last quarter of the game, and grabbed a team high 11 rebounds.
After taking only five free throws in the first half, Cal stepped to the line 31 times and made 20 in the second half. West Chester was called for 24 fouls and the Vulcans only attempted 16 shots from the field in the second half.
The Golden Rams put up 43 shots, many coming off misses, and shot only 33% in the half and the game connecting on 23 of 70 shots, and made only 13-25 from the line.
West Chester travels to Slippery Rock on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff with the Rock, before finally returning home for a battle with Edinboro on Saturday, in the last game before the holiday break.
