Box Score WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Fr., guard
Malik Jackson (Philadelphia, Pa. / Penn Wood) matched his career-high with 34 points to jump start West Chester past Wilmington (Del.) 103-92 in a double-overtime thriller inside Hollinger Fieldhouse Thursday afternoon.
The Golden Rams (10-1) outscored the Wildcats 14-3 in the second overtime period to closeout a wild back-and-forward after being down by as many as 10 points 55-45) at the 16:42 left in the second half due to a Wild Cats' 11-5 run out of the break. They went up by three after senior
Matt Wiseley (Emmaus, Pa. / Emmaus) connected on a pair of free throws with 20 seconds left on the clock.
Earlier in the first half, Ponzo-Meek scored a 3-pointer as time expired to give the Wildcats a four-point advantage heading into halftime (44-40). Wilmington (Del.) (4-9) down by three out of a 30-second timeout needed to get off a shot and there was junior Ponzo-Meek again dribbling on the near wing when he suddenly pulled up from 3-point range again with a defender's hand in his face and history repeated itself as he closed out the second half with a shot from three-point range to knot up the game at 80-80 and send the game into overtime.
Jackson went for 34 points earlier in the year at then seventh-ranked Indiana (Pa.) back on November 22nd, which makes him the first freshman in WCU history to score thirty points twice during their rookie season. Freshman
Matt Penecale (Jenkintown, Pa. / Abington) had a career-day registering 14 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists to conclude the year 2015 half of his rookie season.
Wiseley played discipline basketball after getting called for his fourth foul with 23 seconds to go in the second half to remain on the court when his team needed him most in two extra periods. He would record his fourth double-double of the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing 19 rebounds in the non-conference victory. He also concluded the scoring for WCU in dynamic fashion by getting past the Wildcats defensive set and slamming it home for the one-handed dunkSenior guard
Avery Brown (Mt. Laurel, NJ/ Lenape) added 16 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and a block to provide WCU a lift that included five made free throws and two key rebounds down the stretch in the final period.
Each team went for nine points each in the first overtime period to push a second overtime period. That is where West Chester came alive on a 7-0 run to begin the period and eventually outscore the Wild Cats 14-3 and their largest lead of the game coming at the end to close out a 10-1 start in 2015. It would be the first time the Golden Rams eclipsed the 100-point mark since in back-to-back wins against Mansfield (103-92) and Bowie State (109-97) during the 2013-14 season.
Ponzo-Meek recorded a game-high 37 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his second double-double of his junior season. Teammate Brain Adkins finished second on the team with 19 points, to go with four rebounds, three steals, and two assists on the day. Paul Medlin came off the bench to contribute 15 points down in the paint, while Omari Dill-Pettiford added 12 points in the loss.
West Chester is back inside Hollinger Fieldhouse on Sunday Jan. 3rd to take on PSAC Crossover opponent Seton Hill as the Golden Rams wrap up their six-game home stand at 3 p.m. to open up the New Year.
Game Notes:WCU: Fr., G Jackson matched his career-high 34 points (10-for-20 FG; 6-for-10 3FG; 8-for-8 FT) and seven rebounds…Fr., G Penecale scored a career-high 14 points (4-for-13 FG; 1-for-2 3FG; 5-for-6 FT), nine rebounds, and nine assists…Sr., F Wiseley recorded his fourth double-double of the season scoring 18 points (6-for-13 FG; 0-for-1 3FG; 6-for-7 FT), grabbed 19 rebounds (7th game with double-digit rebounds), two blocks, two tip-ins, and one assist.; WILMU: Jr., G Ponzo-Meek scored a game-high 37 points (11-for-30 FG; 5-for-13 3FG; 10-for-14 FT), added 12 rebounds for his second double-double, four assists, and three steals…Jr., G Adkins scored 19 points (7-for-19 FG; 3-for-11 3FG; 2-for-2 FT), four rebounds, three steals, two assists, and a block; Points Off Turnovers: WILMU 22 WCU 16…Second Chance Points: WCU 14 WILMU 8…FT%: WCU 80.5% (33-for-41) WILMU 73.1% (19-for-26)…Rebounds: WCU 59 WILMU 43… Steals: WILMU 9 WCU 2...These two teams went through a five-overtime game back in 2009-10 (WCU won 80-77)…West Chester concludes its non-conference slate at 4-0.
