West Chester at Mansfield
Game Details: January 22 I 7:30 P.M.
Location: Marion Decker Gymnasium (Mansfield, Pa.)
Coverage Links: Live Stats I Video
Series: 60-34 (WCU 4-1 in last five)
WCU Links: NEWS I ROSTER I SCHEDULE I STATS
Mansfield Links: NEWS I ROSTER I SCHEDULE I STATS
Last Time Out
West Chester trailed by seven midway through the first half after a 9-0 Shippensburg run but steadily worked its way back into the game and took a decisive 31-29 lead later in the half with a rim-rattling alley-oop by Davante Dennis (Baltimore, Md./Red Lion). After the dunk, West Chester carried a 46-40 lead into the halftime break after shooting 57.1 % (20-for-35) from the field in the first half before stretching its lead to as many as 21 late in the second half en route to a season-high 95-78 victory over Shippensburg. West Chester shot 54.3 % (19-of-35) from the field in the second half and went 8-for-10 at the line to finish the game shooting 55.7 % (39-of-70) from the field and 83.3 % (10-of-12) at the line. Dennis and Elijah Allen (Dover, Del./Dover) scored a game-high 21 points, while Dylan Blair (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West), Joshua Walker (Upper Marlboro, Md./Riverdale Baptist), and Anthony Purnell Jr. (Chester, Pa./Kiski) all finished in double figures with 13, 13, and 10, respectively. West Chester ended the game with a 45-22 lead in rebounding, including a 14-5 lead on the offensive glass, which resulted in an 18-10 lead in second-chance points and a 62-34 lead in points in the paint. Walker led the team in rebounding with 11, while Blair picked up a double-double of his own with 11 assists, which is the most by a Golden Ram in a single game since Kyle McGee in 2023 against East Stroudsburg. The Golden Rams dished out 33 assists on Saturday night, which is the most in a single game under head coach Damien Blair.
Flock Talk
West Chester enters play on Wednesday night with a record of 14-3 overall and 9-1 in league play after posting another win over Shippensburg on Saturday afternoon in Hollinger Field House. Following its season-best 95-point outburst, West Chester is now averaging 78.6 points per game on 43.3 % shooting from the field, including 30.5 % from three-point range. The Golden Rams hold a 43.4-33.9 lead in rebounding and a 15.0-14.5 lead in the turnover battle, thanks in part to an 8.6 steal-per-game average. West Chester’s opponents average just 72.5 points per game on 41.7 % shooting from the field, including 28.8 % from deep, while also making an average of nearly 17 free throws per game.
Individually, Allen leads four Golden Rams in double figures on the year, averaging 15.4 points per game, while Walker, Dennis, and Blair are close behind, averaging 11.5, 11.1, and 11.0 points per game, respectively. Walker leads West Chester in rebounding, averaging 7.7 per game, while Anthony McCall (Philadelphia, Pa./ANC) is second, averaging 5.1 per game. In addition to his scoring, Blair has showcased his ability to facilitate the Golden Ram offense at a high level this year, leading the team in assists, averaging 4.5 per game, which is fifth-best in the PSAC after a pair of double-digit assist efforts in the last two games.
Chasing the Legend
Head coach Damien Blair is just six wins away from his 300th win at WCU. When he reaches this milestone, he'll become the second WCU coach to do so, joining his coach and one of the two individuals on the Hollinger Field House floor, named after Dick DeLaney as the only men’s basketball coach to do so. DeLaney ended his career with 370 wins.
Crash the Glass
WCU is fourth in Division II in rebounding, averaging 43.4 rebounds per game, thanks in part to a 16.5 offensive rebounds per game average, which is fourth-best. West Chester is also sixth in DII in rebounding margin and is first in the PSAC in rebounding margin (+9.6), ranking second in rebounding, trailing only Gannon.
Made in the Paint
West Chester has outscored its opponents in the paint in 14 of 17 games this season, and the Golden Rams hold a 654 (38.5/g)-504 (29.6/g) advantage in this category. West Chester is unbeaten when outscoring or finishing the game tied with its foes in the paint (34-34 vs. IUP) but is 0-2 when outscored (West Liberty 50-44; East Stroudsburg 34-26).
Series History
West Chester holds a 60-34 lead over Mansfield in the all-time series after winning each of the last four, including a 97-63 at Mansfield in the season finale against the Mounties last year. West Chester’s last loss to Mansfield came in January 2022 on the road by a 94-90 final. This setback was the Golden Rams first loss to the Mounties since January 2017.
Scouting Mansfield
Entering play with a record of 6-11 overall and 3-8 in league play, Mansfield looks to earn its second win in a row and third win of 2025 on Wednesday night against the visiting Golden Rams. Mansfield enters play following an 81-77 victory over Lock Haven on Saturday afternoon, which saw the Mounties wrap up a busy three-game week with a career-high 26-point game from Owen Chambers to lead the hosts past the visiting Lock Haven Bald Eagles. Mansfield jumped out to a 44-30 lead at the half on 48.3 % (14-of-29) shooting from the field, including a 7-for-15 from three-point range before holding off a furious second-half comeback bid to escape with the four-point victory. Chambers was one of three Mounties in double figures with his 26 points, while Ty Crespo and Scott Woodring finished with 16 and 12 points, respectively.
As a team, Mansfield enters play averaging 71.2 points per game on 42.4 % shooting from the field, including 31.1 % from three-point range, while also shooting 68.9 % from the charity stripe. Mansfield’s opponents average 82.5 points per game on 45.8 % shooting from the field, including 36.3 % shooting from deep, while also averaging just under 12 (11.6) makes per game at the line. Mansfield trails 40.7-37.3 in the rebounding battle and 16.0-13.0 in turnovers, averaging just 6.5 steals compared to 9.4 per game by its opponents.
Individually, Sterling Scott is first on the team in scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game, while Woodring is second, averaging 10.3 per game. Woodring also leads the team in rebounding, averaging 6.9 per game, while Scott is first in assists, averaging 2.3 per game.
