WEST CHESTER, Pa.-Ruben Rodriguez Jr. (Reading, Pa./Reading) led West Chester (1-0) in scoring with 15 points as one of four players in double figures to help the Golden Rams open the season with a 95-74 victory over St. Thomas Aquinas (0-1) in Hollinger Field House on Tuesday night.
On a night that saw West Chester lead by as many as 37 with 11 minutes to play in regulation, Rodriguez Jr. turned in a balanced effort, scoring eight points in the first half before adding seven to his total in the second half along with seven assists, a steal, and a pair of rebounds in the dominant season-opening victory. The Golden Rams' 95-point offensive outburst is the team's best scoring effort in a home opener since a 107-70 romp of Chestnut Hill in November 2018 and stands as the second-most points the Golden Rams have scored in a home opener under Blair.
Four members of the Golden Rams starting five scored in double figures in the victory as
Joe Sedora (York, Pa./Red Lion) added 10 on 4-of-5 shooting along with 11 from
Gavin Dalen (Milford, Ohio/Milford), 12 from
Dylan Blair (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West), and 12 off the bench from
Jaysean Williams (Bloomfield, Ct./The Patrick School).
All 12 of William's points came in the first half, including a 4-for-4 effort from three-point range, including a three-minute stretch in which Williams connected from beyond the arc three times as part of a 13-0 run for the Golden Rams midway through the first half. The sophomore guard led all second-unit players in scoring on Tuesday as the Golden Rams finished the night with a 39-38 lead in points off the bench.
West Chester shot 52.4% (33-of-63) from the field in the victory and 39.3% (11-of-28) from beyond the arc after shooting 58.3% (21-for-36) from the field in the first half, including a 7-for-17 effort from deep. West Chester was also 14-for-17 at the line in the second half to finish the game shooting an even 75.0 % (18-of-24) at the charity stripe. The Golden Rams 11 makes from beyond the arc are the most in a single game for the Purple and Gold since a 15-for-34 effort in a 85-81 setback at Shippensburg in February 2025.
The visiting Spartans managed to outscore West Chester by four in the second half as Brennan Chatman led all scorers with 22 points, scoring 16 of his 22 in the second half, but it was not nearly enough to erase a 25-point (53-28) halftime deficit. STAC shot 40.7% (22-of-54) from the field and 52.4% (11-for-21) from beyond the arc, including a 7-for-12 (58.3%) effort from deep in the second half and a 19-for-24 (79.2%) effort at the free-throw line.
After forcing the Spartans into 15 first-half turnovers, STAC took care of the ball better in the second half but still lost the turnover battle by a 20-11 margin as West Chester finished the game with a 26-12 lead in points off turnovers and a 16-12 lead in points off the break.
West Chester finished the game with a 38-32 lead in rebounding, including a 12-10 edge on the offensive glass, which led to a 15-6 lead in second-chance points along with a 28-18 lead in points in the paint. Dalen led West Chester and tied for the game lead in rebounding with six rebounds, including a pair on the offensive glass in the victory.
Up Next
West Chester will be back in action Saturday afternoon at home against Wilmington at 3 p.m., then host Goldey-Beacom on Sunday at 3 to cap a busy weekend of basketball in Hollinger.
