KUTZTOWN, PA –
Kyle McGee's (Jersey City, N.J./St. Mary's of the Assumption) career-high 19 points led five players in double figures as West Chester University men's basketball squad opened the 2021-22 campaign with an 85-71 victory over Elizabeth City State University in the PSAC/CIAA Challenge inside Keystone Arena Friday afternoon.
West Chester (1-0) broke open a close contest with a 13-3 run midway through the first half that gave the Golden Rams a double-digit lead. West Chester outscored Elizabeth City State (0-1) by seven the rest of the half to take a 56-39 advantage into the locker rooms.
The Golden Rams' five players that reached double figures did so by the first media timeout of the second half. All 11 players that saw action registered a point.
West Chester shot 51.9 percent from the field (27 of 52) and made 47.1 percent of its attempts from beyond the 3-point arc (8 of 17). But, the real pressure on ECSU came from the Golden Rams' defense. Blair's pressure D harassed the Vikings into 15 turnovers, which led to 20 points at the other end. A steal and breakaway layup by McGee at the 10:17 mark of the first half put an exclamation point on that decisive 13-3 run and gave West Chester a double-digit lead that it would not dip below the rest of the game.
Malik Slay (Philadelphia, Pa./Downingtown East) tied his career high with seven assists in the contest.
Jamil Manigo (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) put up 15 points in his first college game.
Matt Dade (Collegeville, Pa./Episcopal) scored 13 points, including nine from the charity stripe. He hit 9 of 12 from the foul line in the game.
Josh Samec (Tresckow, Pa./Hazleton Area) added 11 points and six rebounds while
Robert Smith (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) contributed 10 off the bench.
Elizabeth City State shot just 39.1 percent from the field and hit on just 29.6 percent of its 3-pointers due to the Golden Rams' relentless pressure. The Vikings were led by Zacchues Hobbs' 21 points and Shykeef Daniels' 14 points and eight rebounds.
West Chester will return to Keystone Arena Saturday night at 5 p.m. for another non-league tilt against Lincoln University (Pa.) in the final game of the PSAC/CIAA Challenge.
