KUTZTOWN, Pa.- Following a 1-1 week in the first full week of PSAC East play a week ago, the West Chester University men's basketball team (9-6, 6-3) has shifted its attention to its next foe in PSAC East rival Kutztown (2-13, 1-8). The Golden Rams will make the short trip to Keystone Arena on Wednesday night for their lone game of the week, with the opening tip set for 7:30 p.m.
SERIES INFORMATION
West Chester enters play with a record of 79-41 all-time against Kutztown, including wins in each of the last three meetings between the two teams. West Chester swept the season series a year ago, posting a 72-57 victory at Kutztown before earning a 77-72 win in the finale in Hollinger. Prior to this, West Chester had split the season series each of the previous two years, with the last win in Keystone Arena coming in 2020 when the Golden Rams posted an 85-82 victory.
In the second meeting of the season series a year ago, West Chester found itself in a battle throughout the night, leading by as many as 14 in the first half but trailing by one with under a minute to play, but the Golden Rams closed the game out with three perfect trips to the charity stripe to hold off the upset-minded Golden Bears.
Kyle McGee led all scorers with 28 points in the victory, while
Robert Smith added 18 of his own, including each of the last four points of the game at the free throw line.
FLOCK TALK
On Saturday afternoon, West Chester welcomed its Alumni to Hollinger and formally unveiled its campaign for a redesign and renaming of the court in Hollinger Field House in honor of legendary coaches Deirdre Kane and Dick DeLaney. No. 16/13 East Stroudsburg was not interested in being a cooperative guest once the game got underway, erasing a deficit midway through the first half and never trailing again en route to a 94-79 victory over the Golden Rams.
Joshua Walker tied his career high in the loss, finishing with 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and a 9-for-11 effort at the line, along with seven rebounds, but was outdueled by Lakeem McAliley, who finished with 27 points to lead all scorers. West Chester shot 44.1 % from the field in the setback, including 33.3 % from deep, while ESU shot 51.5 % from the field and 38.1 % from beyond the arc to avoid the upset.
West Chester enters play on Wednesday night with a record of 9-6 on the year after splitting its last six games, going 3-3 over that span, posting a record of 1-2 top-25 foes during this stretch as well, including the 100-97 win over No. 9 Cal. Averaging 79.3 points per game on the year, West Chester has been even better in league play, averaging 83.2 points per game against PSAC competition, which ranks fourth best in the league and second in the East, trailing only Gannon, California, and East Stroudsburg. Shooting 45.0 % from the field on the year, West Chester has also been better in this area since jumping into PSAC play, shooting an impressive 46.9 % from the field, which is fifth best in the league while also ranking second in three-point shooting percentage, connecting on 39.4 % of its attempts from beyond the arc in league action.
Individually,
Elijah Allen (Dover, Del./Dover), Robert Smith (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt), and Joshua Walker (Upper Marlboro, Md./Riverdale Baptist) continue to lead the Golden Rams in scoring, averaging 19.0, 15.9, and 12.6 points per game, respectively. Allen, one of the hottest players in the league for a time, ranks fifth in the league and second in the East in scoring since league play began, averaging 20.1 points per game through nine games.
Jordan Kellier (Kingston, Jamaica/Redemption Christian) continues to be a force to be reckoned with on the glass for the Golden Rams, averaging a league-best 9.7 rebounds per game for the year while averaging 9.9 in league play, which ranks second among all players in the PSAC, trailing only Lashon Lindsay of Slippery Rock. Kellier also ranks second on the team in assists, averaging 2.7 helpers per game, which follows only
Anthony Purnell Jr. (Chester, Pa./Kiski), who leads the team in assists, averaging 3.7 per game, while also ranking ninth in the PSAC in assists in league games, averaging 3.8, including his career-high 10 assists in the win over Shepherd a week ago.
SCOUTING KUTZTOWN
Kutztown enters play following its first PSAC victory of the season and its first win overall since opening night as the team halted a 13-game skid with an 84-72 victory over Shippensburg on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Bears took full advantage of a slow start for the Raiders on Saturday, holding a 35-23 lead at the half after limiting their guests to 27.7 % shooting through the first 20 minutes of action. This 12-point halftime lead held up in the second as the Raiders and Golden Bears matched each other with 49 points each in the final 20 minutes of play. Shooting an impressive 45.7 % from the field in the victory, Kutztown was led offensively by Amir Cunningham, who finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds as the entire starting five scored in double figures. Kutztown shot 40.0 % from the field in the first half and stepped up its production in the second, shooting an impressive 51.4 % to capture its first win since a November 10 victory over Elizabeth City State.
Kutztown enters play averaging 72.3 points per game on 42.9 % shooting from the field, while its foes average 85.4 points per game, shooting 48.5 % through 15 games. Freshman guard Jaiden McGhee has been a bright spot in an otherwise difficult season for Kutztown, leading the team in scoring, averaging 13.0 points per game, while also leading the group in rebounding, averaging 6.9 per game, and ranking second in assists, averaging 1.5 helpers per game. Cunningham is second on the team in scoring, rebounding, and steals, averaging 10.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game, while also ranking third in assists, averaging 1.4 per game.
UP NEXT
Wednesday night will be the Golden Ram's lone game of the week as the team does not return to action until next Wednesday night at Shippensburg, with the squad's next home game not coming until Saturday, January 27, vs Mansfield.
