WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Junior
Malik Jackson (LANSDOWNE, PA./PENN WOOD) became the second West Chester University men's basketball player this season to eclipse the 1,000 career points plateau, as his game-high 24 points helped the Golden Rams down California (Pa.) 91-64 on Sunday to push WCU to 2-0 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play following an undefeated crossover weekend.
THE BASICS
Final Score: West Chester 91, Cal U 64
Location: Hollinger Field House – West Chester, Pa.
Records: West Chester 5-3 overall (2-0 PSAC), Cal U 1-5 overall (0-2 PSAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After keeping Edinboro from reaching 10 points for nearly 14 minutes yesterday, the Golden Rams upped their game even more against the Vulcans, as the home team kept the visitors in single digits for over 17 minutes to start Sunday's outing.
- Trailing 49-17 after the first half, the Vulcans managed to come back in the second stanza and outscore the home team 47-42, but the effort proved much too little and much too late as the Golden Rams grabbed the convincing 91-64 victory to start the 2018-19 season at 2-0 in the conference play.
WEST CHESTER RUNDOWN
- Jackson became the 27th Golden Rams to score 1,000 points throughout his career, and he joined senior teammate Jackson Hyland (AVONDALE, PA./KENNETT) as WCU players to reach the scoring milestone this season after Hyland tallied his 1,000th in a 76-57 victory at home against Bowie State on November 20.
- After Jackson's 24, Hyland finished second one the squad with 14 points in the victory, while seniors Matt Penecale (JENKINTOWN, PA./ABINGTON) and Frank Rokins (PLAINFIELD, N.J. ST. MARY'S) both chipped in 10 points for WCU – with Rokins adding a team-high nine boards and six assists in the process.
- The Golden Rams held their opponents to just 17 points in the opening half for the second-straight game, as West Chester was able to keep the Vulcans under 20 points thanks in large part to Cal U shooting just 8% (1-of-12) from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes of action.
- West Chester held an impressive 52-38 advantage in rebounding on Sunday, with WCU's 52 total boards against the Vulcans marking the most since the Golden Rams matched that number against Cheyney during the 2013-14 campaign.
- WCU notched a +21 margin in bench scoring on Sunday and the Golden Rams were able to turn 18 Cal U turnovers in 26 points on the night.
- West Chester was able to play all 15 players on their roster for the second night in a row.
CAL FACTS
- Brent Pegram played a full 40 minutes for the Vulcans on Sunday night and paced the squad with 20 points and eight assists.
- Although it's their first meeting with the Golden Rams in 2018-19, both Pegram and new Cal U coach Danny Sancomb are no strangers to West Chester and Head Coach Damien Blair. Before coming to Cal U this year, Sancomb was at the helm of Wheeling Jesuit, the team that gave West Chester its first NCAA Tournament victory ever last season - an 82-77 WCU win in a game which Pegram added nine points for the Cardinals in the losing effort.
UP NEXT
- The Golden Rams return to the Hollinger Field House on Wednesday (12/5) to square off against Williamson School of the Trades at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday's outing will be the final home contest for WCU until January 12 - a span that stretches six games overall.
