WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Led by a combined 40 points from senior
Jackson Hyland (AVONDALE, PA./KENNETT) and junior
Malik Jackson (LANSDOWNE, PA./PENN WOOD), the (RV) West Chester University men's basketball team handily defeated Mansfield University 91-56 on Wednesday to give the Golden Rams their program-record 14th victory in a row.
Entering tonight's game tied with Hall of Fame Head Coach Dick Delaney's 2002-03 squad that won 13 straight games, Wednesday's victory gave this year's West Chester team sole possession of the program record for consecutive victories (14) and keeps the Golden Rams in the fourth spot for longest active streak in NCAA DII. This evening's 35-point rout also keeps West Chester undefeated at home this season (12-0) and pushes Mansfield's losing streak inside the Hollinger Field House during WCU Head Coach
Damien Blair's tenure to 11 games.
THE BASICS
Score: West Chester 91 | Mansfield 56
Records: West Chester 20-5 (15-2 PSAC) | Mansfield 4-20 (1-16 PSAC)
Location: Hollinger Field House - West Chester, Pa.
SHORT STORY
The Golden Rams held the visiting Mountaineers in check for the duration of the opening half, as Mansfield shot sub-27% in both field goals and three-pointers through the first 20 minutes of action. A jumper by Hyland at the 3:22 mark gave the Golden Rams their biggest lead of the opener (38-15), prior to Jackson knocking down a triple to bring the score 42-23 entering the locker rooms.
West Chester kept the pedal down in the second half and managed to balloon its cushion to 37 points on multiple occasions. Up 88-56, freshman
Ian Langendoerfer (HONESDALE, PA./HONESDALE) knocked down his lone three-point attempt of the game to bring the final score to 91-56 in favor of the Golden Rams.
WEST CHESTER RUNDOWN
- The Golden Rams connected on 37-of-75 (49%) shots from the floor in the win and 12-of-31 (39%) of their attempts from beyond the arc. West Chester's 49% clip is the highest for the squad in its last 13 contests, while WCU's 12 attempts from deep tied a season high.
- West Chester's 51 boards in the win were the second most for the team this year and the team's 91 points against the Mountaineers is the highest scoring output for the team since dropping 99 on Kutztown back in December.
- WCU held a plus +21 rebounding margin on Wednesday, and the home team held sizable advantages in fast break points (+18), bench points (+17), and second chance points (+13) in the win.
- Hyland collected his fourth double-double (20 points/11 rebounds) of the season on Wednesday night to go along with five assists in 29 minutes.
- Jackson recorded 20 points on six triples in the victory, while pulling down six boards for the second game in a row.
- Senior Matt Penecale (JENKINTOWN, PA./ABINGTON) led all players with six assists on Wednesday, while sophomore Evan-Eric Longino (FURLONG, PA./GERMANTOWN ACADEMY) and freshman Nick Alikakos (WEST CHESTER, PA./THE HILL SCHOOL) both tallied six points and five rebounds off the bench.
MOUNTAINEER FACTS
- Mansfield's 33% (18-of-55) shooting from the field on Wednesday was lowest for the squad in its last 19 games, while MU's 18 made field goals are tied for the fewest for the team this season.
- Entering tonight's matchup leading the PSAC with 10.0 made three-pointer per game, Mansfield connected on just six of its 30 attempts (.200) from beyond the arc, with the squads 20% clip from deep tying a season low for the Mountaineers.
- Junior Taylor Sweeney's 20 points on 6-of-15 shooting paced the Mountaineers on Wednesday, while sophomore Eli Alvin and junior Tyler Moffe combined for 24 points and seven rebounds in the losing effort.
UP NEXT
West Chester has the weekend off from competition before traveling to the Thomas Field House next Wednesday to square off against divisional opponent Lock Haven at 7:30 p.m.
