PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Senior
Jackson Hyland (AVONDALE, PA. KENNETT) notched his third 20-point game of the season and fellow senior
Frank Rokins (PLAINFIELD, N.J./ST. MARY'S) just missed out on a triple-double as the West Chester University men's basketball team defeated Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) representative Holy Family 85-75 in Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
THE BASICS
Final Score: West Chester 85, Holy Family 75
Location: Campus Center Gymnasium – Philadelphia, Pa.
Records: West Chester 3-3 overall, Holy Family 2-2
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Despite holding a sizable rebounding margin the opening half, West Chester was unable to pull too far in front of the Tigers thanks to eight made triples by the home team in the first 20 minutes of action. Up 37-36, a fast break layup from HF's Patrick Robinson would put the Tigers in front 39-36 as the first-half buzzer sounded.
- Holy Family got on the board first in the second half with a jumper by Patrick Robinson, but after that basket dropped, the whole outlook of the game changed. Down 41-36, the Golden Rams rattled off a 17-7 run to race out to the 53-48 advantage at the 12-minute mark.
- The home team managed to trim the WCU advantage down to two (58-56) with under ten to play, but the Golden Rams' jumpers started falling and the visitors were able to construct a lead as many as 16 points (81-65) with a shade under four remaining in regulation.
- The Tigers strung together eight-unanswered points down the stretch to bring the deficit to eight, but back-to-back free throws by junior Malik Jackson (LANSDOWNE, PA./PENN WOOD) with 30 seconds to play would seal the 10 point come-from-behind victory for the Golden Rams.
WEST CHESTER RUNDOWN
- Despite trailing at half time, the Golden Rams held a sizeable advantage in nearly all statistical categories, including points in paint (42-22), second chance points (23-9) and bench points (21-8), while securing a +21 rebounding margin.
- Hyland's 20 points on Tuesday marked the third time this season that the guard has notched at least 20 in an outing and his six boards against the Tigers were tied for the second most in the first six games of the season.
- Playing in a season-high 32 minutes, Rokins totaled 11 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in the win, marking the second double-double for the forward this year.
- Jackson chipped in 16 points in the win, while big man Tim Toro (SCRANTON, PA./ABINGTON HEIGHTS) collected 10 points and eight rebounds on Tuesday night.
- Off the bench, sophomore Colin Daly (HAVERTOWN, PA./ARCHBISHOP CARROLL) poured in a career-high 11 points and freshman forward Nick Alikakos (WEST CHESTER, PA./THE HILL SCHOOL) contributed eight points to go along with a season-best eight rebounds and two steals.
- Along with the W, West Chester also got to see the return of point guard Matt Penecale (JENKINTOWN, PA./ABINGTON) to action after missing the last five games due to injury. In limited playing time, Penecale finished Tuesday's game with two points, three rebounds and three assists.
TIGER TALES
- Patrick Robinson's season-high 28 points on Tuesday led all scorers, while Vincenzo Dalessandro notched a double-double (17 points/10 rebounds) in the loss.
- The Tigers were outrebounded 47-26 on Tuesday evening and only managed to connect on 4-of-13 (30%) of their shots from downtown in second half after dropping in eight triples in the opening 20 minutes.
- Holy Family will next head to Lincoln University for a non-conference matchup on Saturday, before starting conference play with an outing against the University of the Sciences next Tuesday.
UP NEXT
- The Golden Rams will begin Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play this weekend, as the squad welcomes PSAC West foe Edinboro to town for a game on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) before hosting fellow PSAC West representative California (Pa.) inside the Hollinger Field House on Sunday (3:00 p.m.)
