No. 6 ESU Closes Strong To Remain Unbeaten With Win Over WCU

Box Score

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Sixth-ranked East Stroudsburg University closed out the game on a 22-3 run en route to a 107-94 victory over host West Chester University in a PSAC East men's basketball showdown.
 
West Chester (12-6, 5-3 PSAC East) used a 17-3 run to take its first lead of the contest since the opening basket of the game, before East Stroudsburg (18-0, 8-0) responded with its closing run to equal the longest current winning streak in Division II.
 
Troy Hockaday posted 28 points for West Chester – 20 in the first half – while Shannon Givens added another 20. Ben Mingledough registered 15 points, and Cory Blake had 11, including a one-handed, tomahawk jam in traffic that drew the hosts within one (83-82) with 7:48 to play during the Rams' 17-3 spurt.
 
A season-high crowd of 1,023 screaming fans witnessed a game played at a frenetic pace throughout, including a first half that saw 115 combined points between the two squads. East Stroudsburg held a 61-54 advantage at the break thanks to 19 points from All-America guard Whis Grant. Grant finished with a career high 31 points while Matt Tobin contributed 16 points and 10 assists. Rasheed Moore posted a career-high 24 points for the Warriors, who put five players in double figures.
 
The Warriors shot 22-for-35 (62.9 percent) from the field in the first half, and the Golden Rams only trailed by seven points. WCU shot 48.6 percent (18 of 37) in the first 20 minutes. The 61 points allowed by the Rams marked a season high in one half this year.
 
West Chester, which has dropped each of its last two outings, travels to cross-country rival Cheyney on Wednesday for an 8 p.m. conference tilt inside Cope Hall. The Golden Rams are currently tied for third place with Lock Haven, who defeated Cheyney on Saturday.