WILMINGTON, Del.- Following a pair of convincing victories to open the season last weekend, the West Chester men's basketball team (3-0) continued its road heavy start to the 2021-22 season on Sunday afternoon, visiting CACC foe Wilmington for a non-conference battle. The game remained close throughout the early part of the first half but West Chester pulled away with a big run early in the second half to earn the 75-58 non-league victory.
Robert Smith (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) and
Kyle McGee (Jersey City, N.J./St. Mary's of the Assumption) tied for the team and game-high in scoring, as they each scored 14 points in the victory while
Matt Dade (Collegeville, Pa./Episcopal Academy) and
Josh Samec (Tresckow, Pa./Hazleton Area) also ended their nights in double figures with 12 and 10, respectively to help West Chester earn the victory. Dade also ended with a double-double, pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds while
Dame Wall dished out a team-high eight assists en route to the victory.
In the first half, West Chester and Wilmington traded baskets throughout the first 10 minutes of regulation as the Wildcats held a slim 19-18 lead over West Chester with just under 10 minutes to play in the first half. West Chester did not trail for long, or again for that matter as the Golden Rams countered with a 9-2 run to take a 27-22 lead with 7:18 to play in the opening half.
Over the final seven minutes of the first half, West Chester outscored its hosts by a slim 14-11 margin to carry a 41-33 lead into the halftime break, however, Wilmington remained well within striking distance trailing by just eight after the first 20 minutes of play.
West Chester's defense stiffened midway through the first half, which allowed the Golden Rams to limit Wilmington to continue its streak of holding opponents under 40 points in the first half, with 33 becoming the new lowest offensive output by an opponent through the first 20 minutes so far this season.
After a close first half, West Chester wasted little time in the second half extending its lead as the Purple and Gold scored 15 of the first 20 points of the frame over the first seven minutes to extend its lead to 56-38 early in the second half.
West Chester and Wilmington resumed trading baskets from this point as the Golden Rams continued to hold a commanding 16-point (69-53) lead with just five minutes to play in regulation. This late lead proved to be more than enough for the Golden Rams as West Chester rolled to a 75-58 victory over Wilmington on Sunday afternoon.
As a team, West Chester shot 42.1 % (32-of-76) from the field while also going 7-for-24 (29.2 %) from three-point range en route to the victory. West Chester also ended the game with an impressive +18 (56-38) advantage in rebounding and a corresponding 20-5 edge in second-chance points.
The Golden Rams also ended the contest with a 44-24 advantage in points in the paint and a 29-17 lead in bench points.
For Wilmington, playing its second game in as many days Randy Rickards and Danny Walsh led the way in scoring, ending the night with 13 points each.
West Chester will be back in action at home on Tuesday evening vs Chestnut Hill with opening tip in that contest slated for 7 p.m. inside Hollinger Field House.
