SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Senior
Jackson Hyland (AVONDALE, PA./KENNETT) and
Frank Rokins (PLAINFIELD,N.J./ST. MARY'S) combined for 46 points on the night, but the a late run by the Raiders proved too much as the West Chester University men's basketball team fell 91-86 against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) divisional rival Shippensburg on Wednesday night.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
After finishing the regular season with a 16-4 mark in league games, the Golden Rams (21-7) currently occupy the No. 2 spot in the East with both top-seeded East Stroudsburg and No. 3-seed Shippensburg each having one game left in the regular season. Depending on how ESU and SHIP end up on Saturday, West Chester could wrap up the season as either the No. 1 or No. 2 team in the divisional standings. If WCU were to secure the top seed in the East, the Golden Rams would earn a first round bye and host the winner of the #5/#4 game in the quarterfinals on Wednesday (March 6). Otherwise, West Chester will host whoever wins the #6/#3 contest in a quarterfinal game on Wednesday inside the Hollinger Field House with times TBD.
SHORT STORY
After back-to-back free throws by junior
Malik Jackson (LANSDOWNE, PA./PENN WOOD) put the Golden Rams in front 16-15, the host Raiders took the advantage on the very next possession and held that lead for over half of the opening 20 minutes. With just three second remaining on the clock, senior
Matt Penecale (JENKINTOWN, PA./ABINGTON) dropped in a layup to put the Golden Rams in front 38-37 as the first-half buzzer sounded.
West Chester was able to build its lead to as many as nine points on a few occasions in opening minutes of the second frame, but Shippensburg continued to hang around, until eventually the home team strung together a 19-5 midway through to stanza to go up 66-60 with just a shade over eight minutes remaining. A three-pointer by Jackson at the 3:55 mark put the Golden Rams back on top 70-69, but the host Raiders answered back with an 11-2 spurt to go up eight (80-72) with 1:34 left on the clock. A late triple by Hyland would bring the visitors within three (89-86) before SU's Daylon Carter closed out the game with two free throws to give the home team the 91-86 victory on Wednesday night.
WEST CHESTER RUNDOWN
- West Chester shot 42% (32-of-76) from the field, but converted just eight of their 26 attempts (31%) from beyond the arc. The Golden Rams hit a solid 78% (14-of-18) of their free throws in Wednesday's loss and held a +9 rebounding margin (47-39) over their opposition.
- The visitors held the advantage in both points in paint (38-26) and second chance points (17-9), while WCU handed out 14 assists and forced 15 SU turnovers on the night.
- Hyland and Rokins both notched 23 points in Wednesday' loss, with Rokins adding a team-high 11 boards to give the senior his team-leading eighth double-double of the season.
- Jackson chipped in 19 point on 7-of-21 shooting from the floor and fellow guard Penecale tallied a team-high six assists to go along with seven rebounds and nine points in the losing effort.
SHIPPENSBURG FACTS
- The home team connected on 46% (31-of-67) on their shots from the floor and 43% (13-of-30) of their attempts from beyond the arc on Wednesday night.
- SU's Jake Biss led all scorers on Wednesday with a career-high 32 points to go along with a team-high six assists.
- Entering Wednesday as Shippensburg's leading scorer, Antonio Kellem dropped in 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the floor, while Manny Span pulled down a team-high 10 boards in 38 minutes.
- The Raiders (21-6, 15-4 PSAC) currently sit in third place in the divisional standings with one game – Bloomsburg on Saturday – left on their schedule.
