West Chester Comes From Behind To Defeat Mercyhurst, 80-72

Box Score

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Sr., Troy Hockaday scored 18 points off the bench as host West Chester topped visiting Mercyhurst, 80-72, inside Hollinger Field House Friday afternoon in non-league men's basketball action.
 
West Chester (8-4) opened the new year in the same manner in which it closed the previous one with its win over Mercyhurst (5-6). Head coach Damien Blair picked up his 99th career victory on West Chester's sideline as well.
 
WCU shook off the rust from a 12-day rest in the final 20 minutes to earn the win. The Golden Rams trailed 43-39 at halftime when the home team went on a 14-9 run to open the second half and regain the lead for good at 58-56 with 10:39 left to play. Hockaday's layup broke the 10th tie of the game and came during a mini 5-0 run that turned a 56-56 tie into a 61-56 lead.
 
Neither side led by more than nine points in a game that saw eight lead changes and the 10 ties. West Chester outscored Mercyhurst 41-29 in the second half, which proved to be the difference. Cory Blake scored all 10 of his points after the break as the Golden Rams shot 64.7 percent from the field (11-for-17) to spark the rally. Shannon Givens put up nine of his 15 points in the contest, spearheaded by a 5-for-8 showing at the foul line.
 
With the team's second-leading scorer Eddie Mitchell plagued by foul trouble in the second stanza, Blake and Givens stepped up. Mitchell still finished with 10 points as West Chester put five different players in double figures. R.J. Griffin posted 12 points for the Rams.
 
Mercyhurst shot just 37 percent from the field after the break (10-for-27).
 
Hockaday also led West Chester in rebounding with seven boards.
 
Jonathan Ouegnin led the Lakers with 18 points and a team-best seven rebounds. Anthony Lytle added 11 points for the visitors.
 
West Chester hosts Gannon Saturday at 3 p.m.