West Chester vs Millersville
Game Details: February 26 I 7:30 P.M.
Location: Hollinger Field House (West Chester, Pa.)
Coverage Links: Live Stats I Video
Series: 106-105
WCU Links: NEWS I ROSTER I SCHEDULE I STATS
Ville Links: NEWS I ROSTER I SCHEDULE I STATS
Last Time Out
West Chester earned a share of the PSAC East Regular Season crown for the second time in three years on Saturday with an 86-74 victory over Bloomsburg, led by 21 points from Elijah Allen as one of five Golden Rams in double figures. West Chester led by as many as 21 late in the first half but had to withstand a late-game Husky rally to earn an 86-74 victory over Bloomsburg. West Chester shot 47.5 % (28-of-59) from the field, including 47.1 % (8-of-18) from three-point range, while also going 22-for-27 (81.5 %) at the free throw line.
Flock Talk
Elijah Allen has scored in double figures in 20 of his 25 games this year and led West Chester in scoring in 12 of those 20, including five of the last eight, as the senior guard has helped WCU post a record of 10-2 in such games. Allen enters play on Wednesday night averaging 15.5 points per game, which remains the best on the team, while his 1.8 assists per game are third best on the squad. Davante Dennis is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.2 points per game, while Josh Walker is third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.6 points per game, while his 7.3 rebounds per game is first on the team. West Chester enters play averaging 78.5 points per game on 42.5 % shooting from the field, including 32.4 % from beyond the arc. The Golden Rams also hold a 42.5-34.3 lead in rebounding, which remains seventh-best in Division II and second-best in the PSAC, including a 16.6 offensive rebound per game average, which is third best in the Nation.
Playoff Picture
After a pair of wins last week, including a crucial win over East Stroudsburg last Wednesday night, the West Chester men’s basketball team has at least a share of the PSAC East Regular Season crown secured for the second time in three years and will now shift its attention to winning the title outright this week. West Chester needs just one win in one of its last two games or an East Stroudsburg loss in one of the Warrior's final two games to secure the No. 1 seed in the PSAC Tournament and the opportunity to host the PSAC Semifinals and Championship with a Quarterfinal victory on Wednesday.
Making History
West Chester holds a share of the regular season crown for the second time in three years and remains in search of its first outright crown since the 2005-06 season 19 years ago.
West Chester will also go for its 22nd win on Wednesday night, which would tie the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons for the second most single-season wins under head coach Damien Blair. West Chester went 23-7 under Blair during the 2015-16 season, which remains the most wins in a single season under Blair and is tied with the 1998-99 team for the most wins in a single season.
Home Cooking
West Chester will also be looking to remain unbeaten at home this season, entering play a perfect 13-0 in Hollinger in the midst of a 17-game home winning streak, which is the best in the PSAC and fourth best in Division II men’s basketball.
Made in the Paint
West Chester has outscored its opponents in the paint in 18-of-25 games. West Chester is unbeaten when finishing the game tied (IUP 34-34, Mansfield 34-34) or ahead of its foes in points in the paint. WCU is 2-4 when being outscored in the paint (West Liberty 50-44, ESU 34-26, Millersville 46-20, Shepherd 22-26, Shippensburg 40-22, Bloomsburg 34-38) with its lone wins coming vs Shepherd and at Bloomsburg on Saturday afternoon.
Crash the Glass
WCU is seventh in Division II in rebounding, averaging 42.6 rebounds per game, thanks in part to a 16.6 offensive rebounds per game, which is third best. West Chester is 7th in DII in rebounding margin and first in the PSAC in rebounding margin (+8.3). West Chester also ranks second in the PSAC in rebounding & first in offensive rebounding.
The Second Unit
West Chester's bench remains fourth in the PSAC in scoring, averaging 25.4 points per game through 26 games.
NCAA Aspirations
West Chester was one of 10 teams to appear in the first regional rankings of the year released last Wednesday. West Chester is 4-2 against other teams appearing in the rankings, including a sweep of Shepherd, a split with ESU, and a win over California (Pa.). The first numbered rankings of the year are due to be released this Wednesday afternoon.
Series History
Wednesday night will be the latest chapter in one of the oldest rivalries in the PSAC as West Chester and Millersville clash for the 212th time, with the Golden Rams holding a slim 106-105 lead over the Marauders. This lead has shrunk considerably in recent years as the Marauders are on a three-game winning streak and have won eight of the last 10, with the lone exception being an 86-69 victory in West Chester in February 2020 and a 96-91 win in double overtime in February 2023. West Chester was swept by Millersville last year for the first time since 2021-22 and will look to avoid its first back-to-back season sweeps at the hands of the Marauders since the 1992-95 seasons when the Marauders won seven straight.
Scouting Millersville
Millersville (17-9, 13-6) enters play on Wednesday night riding a four-game winning streak, including an 86-66 victory over Lock Haven on Saturday afternoon in Pucillo Gymnasium. PSAC East Athlete of the Week, Drew Stover, led the Marauders in scoring in this victory with 32 points on a nearly perfect 15-of-16 from the field while also grabbing nine rebounds and coming away with two steals and a block in the 20-point victory. Millersville saw its entire starting five score in double figures in the victory and led 51-29 at the half en route to the 20-point victory. Millersvilleshot 52.5 % from the field, including 23.8 % from beyond the arc, while also connecting on 68.0 % at the free throw line in the victory. The Marauders ended the game with a 37-28 lead in rebounding and a narrow 16-13 lead in turnovers.
For the year, Millersville enters play averaging 83.1 points per game on 49.3 % shooting from the field, including a 31.1 % effort from deep, while also shooting 73.8 % at the free throw line. The Marauders hold a 38.5-32.5 lead in rebounding, led by a 7.1 rebound per game average by Drew Stover, who also leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.9 points per game. The Marauders also hold a narrow 15.3-14.7 (+0.6) lead in turnovers, averaging 8.7 steals per game in the final week of the regular season.
