WEST CHESTER, PA –
Matt Dade (Collegeville, PA/Episcopal Academy), 23 points, and
Josh Samec (Tresckow, PA/Hazelton), 21 points, each posted career-highs as West Chester pulled away late from Chestnut Hill for a 97-80 non-league basketball victory at Hollinger Field House Tuesday evening.
Jamil Manigo (Philadelphia, PA/Bishop McDevitt) knocked down a 3-pointer with 1:38 to go that finished off a 24-14 run over a seven-minute span which proved to be the final nail in the coffin down the stretch.
West Chester (4-0) outscored Chestnut Hill (1-4) 56-39 in the second half thanks in large part to more pressure defensively and a better job on the glass than in the first half. Chestnut Hill, which connected on 4 of its 9 three's early on was just 2-for-13 after the break (15.4 percent). Meanwhile, the Golden Rams, who were outrebounded 24-18 in the first 20 minutes, turned those numbers around in the second half to the tune of a 27-19 advantage.
"In the second half, we have been wearing teams down," Blair continued. "If we can keep running guys in there and go 9 or 10 (players) deep for 40 minutes, that's when other teams start to miss shots. What I was disappointed in (that first half), was that they were getting second shots and putting those shots in. That's what was really hurting us."
As a result,
Kyle McGee (Jersey City, N.J./St. Mary's of the Assumption) tied a career high with 14 rebounds, 10 in the last 20 minutes. Dade added 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double on the season. McGee chipped in with 16 points and seven assists to compliment his effort on the glass.
Chestnut Hill was led by Amir Warrick's 23 points and Nigel Houghton's 22. The Griffins' leading scorer, Joseph Iraldi, was held 10 points under his per game average with just eight on the night.
West Chester will hit the road once again after the Thanksgiving break with another non-league tilt at Holy Family on Sunday.
