NEWARK, Del. – The West Chester University men's basketball suffered a loss at the hands of Wilmington University for the first time in program history on Saturday, as the Golden Rams fell 68-64 to the Wildcats inside the WU Athletics Complex in a non-conference showdown.
THE BASICS
Final Score: West Chester 68, Wilmington 64
Location: WU Athletics Complex – Newark, Del.
Records: West Chester 2-3 overall, Wilmington 2-3 overall
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Junior Malik Jackson (LANSDOWNE, PA./PENN WOOD) got West Chester on the board first with a triple, but the Wildcats answered back by scoring the next eight points of the first half to grab the 8-3 advantage with just over 16 minutes to play in the opener.
- Both teams went on to exchange buckets for a majority of the first frame, and following a free throw by Jordan Harding, the Wildcats found themselves up 27-23 with under two to play.
- Down four, another long ball by Jackson paired with a layup by senior Mike Jolaoso (PHILADELPHIA, PA./EPISCOPAL ACADEMY) helped WCU close out the first half on a 5-0 spurt to put the visitors in front 28-27 entering the locker rooms.
- In the second half, both teams spent a majority of the opening moments taking and then surrendering the lead. Up 46-43, WU used back-to-back triples from Jermaine Head to put the home team in front 52-43 with just under nine remaining.
- West Chester was able to hack the deficit down to three on two separate occasions down the stretch, but clutch free throws by Head and Denzil Haynes in the waning moments would help the Wildcats to the historic 68-64 victory on Saturday afternoon.
WEST CHESTER RUNDOWN
- The Golden Rams shot season-lows in both field-goal percentage (39.1%) and three-point field-goal percentage (20%) on Saturday, with WCU's 20% clip from beyond the arc representing its lowest since the squad only converted 17% of its shots from deep in a loss to Shippensburg in last season's PSAC Tournament.
- Senior Jackson Hyland (AVONDALE, PA./KENNETT) and Jackson both notched 15 points for West Chester in the loss, while junior Tim Toro (SCRANTON, PA./ABINGTON HEIGHTS) tied a season-high with 12 points to go along with four rebounds against the Wildcats.
- Senior Frank Rokins (PLAINFIELD, N.J./ST. MARY'S) paced the squad with eight rebounds and three steals on Saturday, and sophomore Colin Daly (HAVERTOWN, PA./ARCHBISHOP CARROLL) handed out a career-high five assists inside the WU Athletics Complex.
MORE ON THE WILDCATS
- Reigning Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Rookie of the Year Jermaine Head led all scorers with 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting to go along with a team-high six steals and six rebounds.
- Saturday's victory over West Chester marked the first time that the Wildcats had defeated the Golden Rams in program history, as WCU entered Saturday's outing holding an 11-0 all-time record against WU dating back to 2004 when the Wildcats joined the NCAA.
UP NEXT
- West Chester will continue its CACC swing on Tuesday at Holy Family (7:00 p.m.) before returning to the Hollinger Field House to host both Edinboro (Saturday, 3:00 p.m.) and California (Sunday, 3:00 p.m.) in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover action.
