West Chester vs Chestnut Hill
Game Details: November 27 I 2 p.m.
Location: Hollinger Field House (West Chester, Pa.)
Coverage Links: Live Stats I Video
Series: 12-1
WCU Links: NEWS I ROSTER I SCHEDULE I STATS
CHC Links: NEWS I ROSTER I SCHEDULE I STATS
Last Time Out
West Chester was back in action on Saturday in its second game of the weekend at Edinboro as the Golden Rams looked to open Crossover play a perfect 2-0. West Chester trailed by as many as 12 in the first half and remained behind for much of the second half, but the Golden Rams shot 60.0 % from the field in the second half to erase a halftime deficit for the first time this season in the 80-79 victory. West Cheser closed the game on a 29-20 run and hit 10-of-16 shots from the field, led by 11 points from Dylan Blair, who finished with 17 points to storm back and defeat the Fighting Scots. Blair was second on the team in scoring, trailing only Elijah Allen, who scored a game-high 19 points, while Davante Dennis was the final Golden Ram in double figures with 14 on 6-of-8 shooting in the victory.
Flock Talk
Elijah Allen is first on the team in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game, the 11th best in the PSAC and the sixth best in the PSAC East. In league action, Allen is fourth in scoring, averaging 22.0 points through the first two games after scoring 25 in the victory over Slippery Rock on Friday.
One of the top rebounding teams in the PSAC, West Chester is second in the league in rebounding, averaging 42.7 per game, including a league-best 17.8 offensive rebounds per game. West Chester is eighth in the PSAC in scoring, averaging 81.7 points per game, while yielding an average of 82.2 per game, which is still on its way back down after allowing 114 in the season opener against West Liberty. After shooting north of 50.0 % in two of the last three games, West Chester is now shooting 42.6 % from the field and 32.7 % from three-point range on the year.
Thanksgiving Eve Tradition
West Chester will meet Chestnut Hill on Thanksgiving Eve for the second year in a row. Today also marks the first time since 2019 that West Chester has played at home the day before Thanksgiving.
Heating Up
West Chester shot a season-best 80 % at the free throw line on Saturday afternoon. West Chester also shot over 50 % from the field in the victory for the second time in the last three games, and it was the third time in four games that the Golden Rams shot over 47 % from the floor.
Home for the Holidays
Wednesday afternoon’s game will be the first of a three-game homestand for West Chester as the Golden Rams will host a crossover weekend against California and IUP on December 6 and 7, with game times set for 5 and 3 p.m., respectively. West Chester was 10-4 at home last year, including a PSAC Tournament opening victory over Shepherd (76-66), which got the Golden Rams back to the Quarterfinals for the 12th year in a row. West Chester won each of its last four games in Hollinger last year, with its last home loss coming in a 78-77 setback against Lock Haven. Since 2019-20, West Chester is 47-14 in Hollinger (inclusive of regular and postseason play).
Crash the Glass
WCU is tied for 15th in Division II in rebounding, averaging 42.7 rebounds per game, thanks in part to a PSAC-Best 17.8 offensive rebounds. West Chester is also 39th in DII in rebounding margin and is fifth in the PSAC in rebounding margin (+7.2) while ranking second in rebounding.
The Second Unit
Through an admittedly small sample size, West Chester is second in the PSAC and 45th in DII in points off the bench, averaging 32.2 points per game. The WCU bench has outscored the opposing bench in five of six games this season, including a 42-31 advantage over No. 17 West Liberty and each of the last four games.
The Season of Giving…Second Chance Points
West Chester has outscored its opponents in second-chance points in every game but one this season, entering play with a 110 (18.3)-52 (8.6) lead through six games.
Series History
West Chester will face Chestnut Hill on Wednesday afternoon in what has become a traditional Thanksgiving week non-league tilt for the Golden Rams and Griffins. Squaring off on Thanksgiving Eve for the second year in a row, West Chester will look to improve to 13-1 all-time and win its eighth straight against Chestnut Hill after posting a 74-68 victory on the road last Thanksgiving Eve. West Chester led by as many as 21 in the first half but had to withstand a late-game charge by Chestnut Hill, which saw the Griffins trim the lead to as few as five in the final minute of regulation. Elijah Allen led West Chester in scoring with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting.
Scouting Chestnut Hill
Chestnut Hill enters play after seeing its two-game winning streak halted by Adelphi by a 70-51 final on Saturday afternoon. The Griffins found themselves down just two (36-34) at the half after shooting 40.7 % from the field in the first half, but they shot 19.3 % in the second half and mustered only 16 points in the 21-point loss. IV Pettit scored a team-high 19 points in the loss as he went 5-for-12 from three-point range and 4-for-5 from the line. Alejandro Redondo-Cybak flirted with a double-double, finishing with nine points, eight rebounds, and a team-best two assists in the loss.
For the year, Chestnut Hill is averaging 63.8 points per game on 36.9 % shooting from the field, 27.7 % from three-point range, and 73.1 % from the line. The Griffins average 37.8 rebounds and 12.8 turnovers per game, trailing by -.06 and -.08 margins in both categories. IV Pettit leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.0 points per game, while Noah Charles is second, averaging 10.0 points per game. Neal Hill leads the squad in rebounding, averaging 9.0 per game, while Redondo-Cybak is second, averaging 8.6 per game.
Chestnut Hill opponents enter play, averaging 68.6 points per game on 44.2 % shooting from the field and 28.6 % from deep while also shooting 63.2 % at the free throw line.
