WEST CHESTER, Pa. - West Chester University's men's basketball teams lifts the lid on its home slate this weekend hosting Gannon University on Saturday at 3 p.m. and Clarion University on Sunday at 3 p.m.
West Chester (0-2) opened up the 2016-17 campaign on the road at the West Liberty Tip-Off Classic last weekend, dropping a pair of contests to Notre Dame College (96-87) and top-ranked West Liberty (117-91). Gannon opens its season at Hollinger Field House Saturday afternoon. This weekend's games begin a stretch of three straight inside Hollinger Field House. The Golden Rams host Bowie State the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Gannon leads the all-time series 5-4 with each of the last five games between these two schools being decided by no more than four points. The last three times these two schools on opposite sides of the commonwealth have met, the contest has been decided by one point. Clarion is 9-7 all-time against West Chester entering Sunday's showdown. However, West Chester has won the last three encounters with the Golden Eagles, including two years ago at Hollinger.
West Chester is led by a pair of sophomore guards, who will be asked to mature quickly and provide some senior leadership as sophomores.
Matt Penecale (Jenkintown, Pa./Abington) averaged 19.5 points per game in the West Liberty Tip-Off Classic.
Mike Jolaoso (Philadelphia, Pa./Episcopal Academy) averaged 14.5 off the bench.
Malik Jackson (Lansdowne, Pa./Penn Wood) put up 23 points on Saturday against the No. 1 team in the country.
