SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa.- Elijah Allen (Dover, Del./Dover) scored 25 points on 6-of-16 shooting, including a 3-for-6 effort from beyond the arc, while also 10-for-10 at the line to help lead the West Chester University men's basketball team (3-2, 1-0) to its third win in a row with an 81-64 victory over Slippery Rock (2-3, 0-1) on Friday evening.
West Chester was in a close game throughout much of the evening, but a 12-0 run midway through the second half gave the visitors a 12-point lead nearing the 10-minute mark, and another 18-9 run to close out the game lifted the Golden Rams to the victory.
Anthony McCall (Philadelphia, Pa./ANC) scored 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting and a 4-for-9 effort at the line as the lone other Golden Ram in double figures. McCall finished one rebound shy of his first double-double as a Golden Ram, finishing with nine, while Allen led the team in assists and steals with three and two, respectively.
Saleem Payne (Philadelphia, Pa./Phelps School) finished with nine, while
Dylan Blair (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) and
Anthony Purnell Jr. (Chester, Pa./Kiski) chipped in eight each.
West Chester shot 37.9 % (25-of-66) from the field and 26.7 % (4-of-15) from three-point range in the victory while also going 21-for-38 (71.1 %) at the free throw line.
West Chester raced out to an early 13-5 lead in the first six minutes before Slippery Rock used a 12-3 run to take a 17-16 lead with just over 10 minutes to play in the first half.
West Chester stretched its lead back to 20-17 moments later, but the two sides traded runs over the next five minutes as the Golden Rams held a slim 27-26 lead with five minutes to play in the first half.
West Chester continued to hold a slim lead as the first half wound its way down, eventually carrying a 39-37 lead into the intermission after a layup by Allen with nine seconds to play for his 10
th point of the first half.
The two sides continued trading points through the early going of the second half before West Chester went on a 12-0 run, led by six points from
Davante Dennis (Baltimore, Pa./Red Lion and a three by
Dylan Blair (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) gave the Golden Rams a seemingly comfortable 57-45 lead with under 11 minutes to play.
Slippery Rock put forth a valiant comeback effort and cut the deficit to as few as eight (63-55) with 5:21 to play before West Chester closed the game out on an 18-9 run to roll to the 81-64 victory to open PSAC Crossover play with a victory once again in 2024.
Slippery Rock shot 35.6 % (21-of-59) from the field and 26.3 % (5-for-19) from three-point range while also going 17-for-24 (70.8 %) at the line. Ike Herster and Jomo Goings led the team in scoring, finishing with 23 and 15 points, respectively.
One of the top rebounding teams in Division II, West Chester, ended the night with a 53-36 lead in rebounding, including a 22-11 advantage on the offensive glass, which resulted in a 24-10 lead in second-chance points.
The Golden Rams also won the turnover battle by three (15-12) and scored 22 points off the Rock's 15 turnovers. Additionally, West Chester ended the game with a 28-15 lead in points off the bench and a 40-24 lead in points in the paint.
Up Next:
West Chester will return to action tomorrow afternoon at Edinboro beginning at 3 p.m.
