ETTRICK, Va.- Following an opening-night victory over St. Augustine's, the West Chester University men's basketball team (1-1) returned to action on Saturday night against host Virginia State (1-1). Virginia State went on a run midway through the first half and took a lead it would never relinquish in a 82-62 victory over the visiting Golden Rams.

Joshua Walker (Upper Marlboro, Md./Riverdale Baptist) finished with 13 on 5-of-9 shooting from the field as the lone Golden Ram in double figures on Saturday evening. Walker also tied for the team-lead in rebounding, coming away with six boards on the night. Nix Varano (Chalfont, Pa./La Salle College High School) and Mirko Bramati (Bologna, Italy/St. Thomas More) tied for second on the team in scoring, finishing with eight points each on 3-of-5 and 3-for-3 shooting, respectively.  

West Chester and Virginia State traded stops throughout the first five minutes of action as the host Trojans held a slim 11-7 lead over the Golden Rams. Both sides went cold over the next four minutes as neither team scored until Virginia State converted a three-point play with 11:04 to play in the first half, taking a 14-7 lead over the Golden Rams.

The hosts continued to extend their advantage down the stretch of the first half, eventually pulling ahead to a 21-point (41-20) lead heading into the halftime break.

West Chester struggled from the field in the first half, shooting just 23.1 % (6-of-26) from the field, including of a 1-of-9 (11.1 %) shooting performance from three-point range. For its part, Virginia State shot slightly better, shooting 35.7 % (10-of-28) from the floor and 2-of-10 (20.0 %) from range, while also going a perfect 19-for-19 at the line to get out to an early lead.

The two sides traded baskets to start the second half as the hosts maintained a 20-point advantage for much of the half, stretching the lead to as much as many as 26 (67-41) with just under 10 minutes to play in regulation. The Golden Rams continued to battle back in the final minutes of regulation but never managed to get the deficit below 20 as Virginia State held on for a 82-62 victory over the Golden Rams.

West Chester shot 38.9 % (21-of-54) from the field and 7-of-21 (33.3 %) from deep, while also connecting of 13-of-23 (56.5 %) from the line. Virginia State shot an even 50.0 % (26-of-52) from the field, including a blistering 66.7 % (16-of-24) in the second half, while also shooting 27.8 (5-of-18) from deep and 83.3 % (25-of-30) at the line.

The Golden Rams, who have been one of the best rebounding teams in the land in recent years, also found themselves on the wrong end of the rebounding battle as the Trojans ended the game with a +15 (38-23) lead on the glass.

Kamyn Edwards was one of three Virginia State players in double figures on Saturday night, finishing with 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including a 3-for-8 effort from beyond the arc. Imhotep George and Tremere Brown also finished in double figures, pouring in 12 and 11, respectively to hand the Golden Rams their first setback of the young season.

Up Next:

West Chester returns to action on Wednesday night against Fairmont State beginning at 6 p.m. in Hollinger Fieldhouse.