WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Winners of two of three to open 2026, the West Chester University men's basketball team (9-4, 3-3) returns home on Saturday afternoon to take on Shippensburg (6-7, 1-5) in an Alumni Day Clash in Hollinger Field House beginning at 4 p.m.
West Chester vs Shippensburg
Game Details: January 10 I 4 P.M.
Location: Hollinger Field House (West Chester, Pa.)
Series: 76-38
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Last Time Out
West Chester picked up its second win of 2026 and returned to the win column with a dominant 113-75 victory over Mansfield on the road on Wednesday night to open PSAC East play. West Chester never struggled against the Mountaineers on Wednesday afternoon, leading by as many as 44 late in the second half in a dominant win to open league play.
Gabe Moss (Pottstown, Pa./The Hill School) led the Golden Rams in scoring with 22 points, finishing one point shy of his high as a Golden Ram, which was 23 against Bowie State on November 15, while
Ruben Rodriguez Jr. (Reading, Pa./Reading) poured in 20 points of his own as he continued his red-hot start to 2026. Rodriguez Jr. is now averaging 25.0 points per game in 2026 and has scored 20 points or more in each game of the New Year. West Chester shot north of 50 % from the field in both halves, including a 60.5 % (23-of-38) effort in the second half to shoot 57.9 % (44-of-76) from the field and 7-for-16 (43.8 %) from beyond the arc.
Flock Talk
Wednesday afternoon's victory was the most points West Chester has scored against a league foe since a 116-93 win at Mansfield in 1988-89 and is the most points West Chester has scored against a Division II foe since a 113-91 win over Lincoln in 2019. Wednesday's win was the first time West Chester had not found itself trailing at the half (West Chester is 4-3 when trailing at the half) since a 95-52 win over Lincoln on December 2, and also improved West Chester to 5-1 on the year when the Golden Rams shoot north of 50.0 % from the field. West Chester enters the weekend tied for 15th in Division II in scoring, averaging 90.0 points per game on 49.7 % shooting from the field, which is 19th in Division II. West Chester also shoots 32.8% from three-point range and 66.1% at the free throw line, while holding a 41.7-31.0 rebounding advantage, which is ninth-best in Division II. West Chester ranks third nationally in offensive rebounds per game, averaging 17.2, which has helped the team hold a 257-149 lead in second-chance points.
Individually, Rodriguez Jr. leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, while
Anthony McCall (Philadelphia, Pa./ANC) is second in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
Dylan Blair (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) leads the team in assists, averaging 4.2 per game, while also tying with Rodriguez Jr. for the team lead in steals with 1.8 per game.
A Well-Deserved Honor
Ruben Rodriguez Jr. has returned from the Holiday Break in a big way, as the junior guard is averaging 25.0 points per game through the first three games of 2026. The junior guard is the reigning PSAC East Athlete of the Week after scoring 30 and 25 on the final weekend of Crossover play at IUP and Seton Hill. Rodriguez Jr. poured in 20 points with six rebounds, four steals, and two assists in the win over Mansfield on Wednesday.
Superlative Central
West Chester is outscoring opponents in the paint (618-434), in second-chance points (257-149), and in points off turnovers (309-255) through the first 13 games of the season.
Second Chances
The Golden Rams are also third in Division II in offensive rebounds per game (17.2), ninth in rebounding margin (+10.7), 15th in rebounding (41.7), and seventh in turnovers forced (19.3).
Welcome Back
Saturday is Alumni Day in Hollinger Field House as the Golden Rams combine past and present to celebrate the long and storied history of its basketball program. Before the tip of the women's game on Saturday afternoon, West Chester held Alumni games for both the men's and women's basketball programs, giving players of the past a chance to showcase their skills on Kane-DeLaney Court once again.
Home Sweet Home
The Golden Rams have been one of the best teams in the Nation at home in recent years, going 64-17 (.790) at home since 2019-20, including an unbeaten regular season last winter. Prior to a December 20 loss to Gannon, West Chester had not lost a regular-season home game since February 3, 2024, when the team fell to Lock Haven by a 78-77 final.
Series History
West Chester leads Shippensburg in the all-time series by a 76-38 after splitting the season series last season. West Chester has won three of five against the Raiders, including a sweep of the season series in 2023-24 for the first time since 2015-16. While Shippensburg retains a 6-4 lead in the last 10 meetings and split the season series with a hot-shooting win over the nationally-ranked Golden Rams in Heiges Field House last season, West Chester has not lost to the Raiders at home since January 2023 when the Raiders won the first game of the series 76-61 en route to a season sweep of the Golden Rams.
Scouting Shippensburg
Shippensburg (6-7, 1-5) enters play following a 71-67 loss to Bloomsburg on Wednesday night at Bloomsburg to open PSAC East play. Shippensburg led 41-38 at the half but fell victim to a late-game cold snap as the Raiders shot just 30.3 % (10-of-33) from the field and 1-for-10 from beyond the arc in the four-point road loss. Markus Frank led the team in scoring with 21 points on 9-of-18 shooting, while Jaydon Smith added 15 of his own in the loss.
Shippensburg enters play on Saturday, averaging 79.9 points per game on 47.7 % shooting from the field and 34.3 % shooting from beyond the arc, along with 71.1 % shooting at the free throw line. The Raiders trail 38.1-34.5 in rebounding but do hold a slim (+0.7) lead in turnover margin. Markus Frank, who remains among the league leaders in scoring, is first on the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 21.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while Jaydon Smith is second in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per game. Michael Dickson is first on the team in assists (4.6) and steals (1.8), while ranking third in scoring (12.8).
Up Next
West Chester will be back in action at home on Tuesday night against Kutztown, beginning at 7:30, before visiting Bloomsburg on Thursday night for another 7:30 tip.
