MANSFIELD, Pa.- With just three games remaining on the regular season schedule, the West Chester University men's basketball team (15-9, 12-6) has shifted its attention to its next opponent in Mansfield (8-17, 6-14) as the Golden Rams visit the Mountaineers on Saturday looking to continue their late-regular season winning streak.
Today is the first of two straight away from home as West Chester completes its final road swing of the 2023-24 regular ahead of Senior Day at home against Bloomsburg on Saturday, March 2. West Chester is comfortably in fourth in the PSAC East standings, trailing East Stroudsburg, Millersville, and Lock Haven, while holding a solid lead over fifth-place Shepherd, whom the Golden Rams swept earlier this season. West Chester appears to be well-positioned to host a first-round PSAC tournament game on Monday, March 4, once again.
SERIES INFORMATION
After completing its first sweep of Shippensburg since 2015-16 and posting its largest win over the Raiders since 1972, West Chester will now shift its attention to the second game of its season series against Mansfield on Saturday. WCU leads the series 59-34 after sweeping it once again a year ago and winning the first meeting by an 83-73 final earlier this season.
FLOCK TALK
West Chester jumped back above .500 for the month of February on Wednesday night with a gaudy 102-59 victory over Shippensburg in the penultimate home game of the 2023-24 regular season. West Chester trailed early but found itself behind for less than a minute, using a 34-12 run to break open a once-close game and carry a 55-24 lead into the halftime break. West Chester never wavered in the second half, outscoring Shippensburg 47-35 down the stretch to post a dominant 102-59 victory over its Eastern Division rival. West Chester saw five Golden Rams score in double figures, including a 19-point/16-rebound double-double by
Jordan Kellier (Kingston, Jamaica/Redemption Christian) and career-high performances by
Luke Boyd (Somerton, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) (15) and
Saleem Payne (Philadelphia, Pa./Phelps School) (10). West Chester shot 54.1 % from the field in the victory, including 61.0 % in the first half to cruise to the 43-point triumph.
Kellier, who leads the PSAC and ranks seventh in Division II in rebounding, averaging 10.7 per game, picked up his 14th double-double of the season on Wednesday night, passing Matt Wiseley's mark of 13 during the 2015-16 season for the most by a Golden Ram since at least the 2010 season. West Chester continues to show its offensive versatility with four players averaging in double figures, still led by the 18.0 and 17.0 point per game averages of
Robert Smith (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) and
Elijah Allen (Dover, Del./Dover).
West Chester posted 29 assists in its Wednesday night triumph over Shippensburg, the most by the team in a PSAC East game since a 31-assist effort in a victory over Millersville during the 2018 season. This 31-assist effort came as part of a 107-63 victory over the Marauders in Hollinger and remains one of the team's largest PSAC East wins in recent memory. This 44-point victory was one of two 40+ point victories for West Chester during that magical 2017-18 season, which saw the Golden Rams win their first NCAA Tournament game in program history as the team also dismissed Cheyney by 48 points earlier in that season.
SCOUTING MANSFIELD
Mansfield enters play riding substantial momentum after pulling a 73-68 upset over PSAC East leader Lock Haven on Wednesday night. Trailing by eight at the half, Mansfield put together an outstanding second-half performance, which saw the Mounties outscore their guests 38-25 to erase the deficit and stun the PSAC East-leading Bald Eagles. Mansfield shot 42.4 % from the field in the upset, including a 29.2 % effort from deep, while also connecting on 76.2 % from the line. While Lock Haven won the rebounding battle by a 41-36 margin, Mansfield made up for it with a +4 (19-15) lead in the turnover battle, capitalizing on extra possessions through intense defensive pressure. Idris Ali led the team in scoring with 18 points in the victory while also posting a team-best three assists. Saraj Ali led the way in rebounding, corralling 10 while also adding 10 points for a double-double as one of five in double figures.
Saraj Ali and Michael Dickson are the Mounties' two leading scorers on the year, averaging 15.2 and 12.4 points per game to key an offense that averages 76.0 points per game on 46.1 % shooting on the year. Ali also leads the team in rebounding, averaging 7.8 rebounds per game, while Idris Ali leads the group in assists, averaging 2.5 helpers per game.
UP NEXT:
Following Saturday's game, West Chester will embark on its final week of the regular season with a visit to Millersville on Wednesday night before welcoming Bloomsburg to Hollinger Field House for the regular season home finale and Senior Day against the Huskies.
