WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The (RV) West Chester University men's basketball team suffered its first loss in its last 15 games on Saturday, as the Golden Rams fell to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) rival East Stroudsburg 94-77 inside the Hollinger Field House.
Saturday's loss marked the first for the Golden Rams (21-6, 16-3 PSAC) since December 18, and the defeat prevented West Chester from claiming its first outright PSAC East title since 2006. Entering its regular season finale against Shippensburg on Wednesday, West Chester now holds just a half-game lead over East Stroudsburg (18-6, 15-3 PSAC) in the East standings with the Warriors still having two games left on their schedule.
This evening's defeat marks the first for the Golden Rams against a divisional opponent this season, while Saturday's loss also kept WCU from going undefeated at home for the first time since 1949-50 when the Hollinger Field House first opened.
SHORT STORY
As anticipated, Saturday's contest was a battle all the way through. The early parts of the opening half saw both sides fight to four ties until a free throw by Ryan Smith sparked a 7-0 run to put the Warriors in front 35-28 with just a shade over three to play in the opener. Two free throws by senior
Matt Penecale (JENKINTOWN, PA./ABINGTON) closed out the half with West Chester trailing the visiting Warriors by a single point (41-40).
West Chester took the lead back in the opening moments of the second half with a layup from junior
Tim Toro (SCRANTON, PA./ABINGTON HEIGHTS), but ESU quickly took control again with a bucket on the following play and never looked back. East Stroudsburg slowly built its advantage to double-digits over the next few minutes and saw its cushion expand to as many as 20 points multiple times down the stretch. Down 20, the game ended with a triple from senior
Mike Jolaoso (PHILADELPHIA, PA./EPISCOPAL ACADEMY) to bring the final score to 94-77 in this battle between the class of the PSAC East.
WEST CHESTER RUNDOWN
- The Golden Rams connected on 22-of-77 (35%) from the field and struggled to a 28% (5-of-18) clip from beyond the arc. WCU's field goal percentage on Saturday was the lowest for the team in its last 17 games, while the Golden Rams' five triples were the second fewest in their last 18 outings.
- West Chester tied a season high with 53 rebounds on Saturday night and collected 12 steals, which is the highest total for WCU in its last 12.
- Junior Malik Jackson (LANSDOWNE, PA./PENN WOOD) paced the Golden Rams with 19 points, including a team-high three shots from beyond the arc. Senior Jackson Hyland (AVONDALE, PA./KENNETT) chipped in 15 points and seven rebounds in 33 minutes, while fellow senior Frank Rokins (PLAINFIELD, N.J./ST. MARY'S) notched his sixth double-double (12 points/12 rebounds) of the season to go along with a team-high five helpers in the losing effort.
WARRIOR WATCH
- ESU shot an even .500 (31-of-62) from the floor and 36% (10-of-26) from beyond the arc in the victory. The Warriors' 22 made free throws on Saturday were the third most for the squad this season, while the visitors' six rejections were the highest total in their last four games and second most overall this year.
- Entering the game as the No. 2 team in the country in both total steals and steals per game, the Warriors tied a season low with just eight takeaways in Saturday's win.
- Ryan Smith recorded his third straight double-double (eighth overall) on Saturday after putting up a game-high 23 points on 7-of-7 shooting from the floor with 12 boards.
- Coming off the bench for the first time in the last 19 games, Josh Williams tallied 22 points in Saturday win, while Jakwan Jones recorded nine points, six rebounds, and a game-high seven assists in a team-high 31 minutes played.
UP NEXT
The Golden Rams close out the regular season on Wednesday, February 27, with a game against Shippensburg inside the Heiges Field House.
