WEST CHESTER, Pa.- In need of a win to capture at least a share of the PSAC East Regular Season title for the third time in four years and earn a bye to the PSAC Quarterfinals, the West Chester University men's basketball team (21-7, 15-6) returned to action at home on Saturday afternoon against East Stroudsburg (20-8, 14-7). West Chester got out to an early lead and led by as many as 15 late in the first half en route to a 95-87 win over East Stroudsburg to sweep the season series from the Warriors for the first time since 2023.
Before Saturday's victory, West Chester honored its senior class of
Dinari Boykin (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley), Anthony McCall (Philadelphia, Pa./ANC), Davante Dennis (Baltimore, Md./Red Lion), Luke Boyd (Somerton, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), and Nix Varano (Chalfont, Pa./La Salle College HS).
Saturday's victory helped West Chester earn a share of the PSAC East Regular Season title for the third time in four years and gave West Chester the second seed in the PSAC Tournament as Millersville claimed the top seed after its season sweep of the Golden Rams earlier this week. With this, West Chester will return home on Wednesday night after a Monday bye to face the winner of the Indiana (Pa.)/Edinboro first-round matchup on Monday for a ticket to the PSAC Semifinals at the home of the highest remaining seed in the PSAC West.
West Chester shot an even 50.0 % (34-of-68) from the field once again in the victory after shooting 54.3 % (19-of-35) in the first half and 35.0 % (7-of-20) from three-point range, while also going 20-for-29 (69.0 %) at the line.
The Golden Rams' entire starting five scored in double figures, led by 17 from
Dylan Blair (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West), who also finished with six rebounds and two assists.
Ruben Rodriguez Jr. 9Reading, Pa./Reading) had 14 points and a team-high seven assists, while
Gabe Moss (Pottstown, Pa./The Hill School) finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. Boykin and McCall also finished in double figures with 13 and 10, respectively.
Joe Sedora (York, Pa./Red Lion) was the sixth and final Golden Ram in double figures with 11 points off the bench on 5-of-7 shooting from the field.
West Chester trailed only briefly (56 seconds) and never by more than two in the East clinching victory on Saturday, while leading by as many as 15 in the waning seconds of the first half. East Stroudsburg battled back in the second half and cut the deficit to as few as four with under three minutes to play, but could not get any closer, as West Chester held on for the 95-87 victory, which finished off the season sweep.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair throughout, featuring four lead changes and three ties as the Golden Rams led for nearly 17 of the 20 minutes, leading by 15 late in the first half after a Moss dunk before Ethan Millirons hit a corner three to cut the deficit to 51-39 at the half.
West Chester shot 54.3 % (19-of-35) from the field in the first half, including a 5-for-11 (45.5 %) effort from beyond the arc, while East Stroudsburg shot 48.0 % (12-of-25) from the field, including a 5-for-15 (33.3 %) effort from three-point range.
West Chester's 51 first-half points were the team's best first-half effort since a 52-point outburst against Mansfield on January 31.
East Stroudsburg battled in the second half and shot an even 50.0% (16-of-32), which allowed the visitors to outscore the Golden Rams 48-44 in the second half, but it was not enough for the visitors to escape with a Senior Day upset over West Chester.
Keni Williams and Adrian Brito led ESU in scoring with 21 and 16 points, respectively, as none of the five Warriors starters scored in double figures. This included former Golden Ram
Saleem Payne, who mustered just seven points along with four fouls and four turnovers in just under 13 minutes of action after finding himself in foul trouble in the first half.
East Stroudsburg shot 49.1 (28-of-57) from the field in the loss, including a 30.8 % (8-of-26) effort from three-point range, while also going 23-for-32 (71.9 %) at the line.
West Chester ended the game with a 41-34 lead in rebounding and an 18-12 lead on the offensive glass, which resulted in 21 second-chance points and a 44-36 lead in points in the paint. West Chester also won the turnover battle (16-12) and finished the game with a 25-21 lead in points off turnovers, along with 13 fast break points.
Up Next
West Chester will return to action at home on Wednesday for what will most likely be its final home game of 2025-26 in the PSAC Quarterfinals against the winner of IUP/Edinboro on Monday evening. Opening tip on Wednesday night is projected to be 7 p.m.
