West Chester (9-8, 6-7) rebounded from a rough start to the new year with a three game winning-streak, including two this past week against PSAC East leading Bloomsburg and PSAC rival Cheyney.
The Golden Rams started 2012 off with four road games in nine days. First up was Indiana (Pa.) (9-2, 6-1), who had just one conference loss and was in the middle of a six game winning-streak.
West Chester held the lead for most of the first half and would not go away, but came up short in the end, losing 71-66. Forward Corey Blake led the Rams with 16 points and 10 rebounds, six coming on the offensive glass. Guard Jon Breeden scored 15, and to go along with a team high, four assists. Guard Jaleel Mack added 11 off the bench as West Chester shot only 31% from the field.
There was no time to dwell on the loss for the Rams, as the very next day they had to make the trip from Indiana (Pa.) to California (Pa.) (8-6, 5-3) to take on the Vulcans. West Chester took a 12 point lead into halftime, but Cal. fought its way back and Blake missed a three pointer at the end losing by two, 61-59. The Golden Rams spread out the scoring, with four players reaching double figures. Breeden and Blake scored 13 apiece, with Blake notching his second double-double in as many days by pulling down 13 rebounds. Forward Lance McDowell added 11 and Mack scored 10 off the bench.
Next up for West Chester on its road trip was Kutztown (8-5, 5-4) four days after the loss to Cal. The Golden Bears came out firing, outscoring the Golden Rams in the first 10 minutes of the game 24-10, and never let West Chester get close, cruising to an 87-68 victory. For the second straight game West Chester had four players score double digits led by Blake’s 16. McDowell scored 15 and grabbed nine rebounds. Guard Carl Johnson recorded 13 points of his own and Mack provided some support off the bench, scoring 12. As a team the Golden Rams shot a meager 2 of 15 from three for the game.
The last stop for the struggling Golden Rams was Millersville (4-9, 2-7) to take on the Marauders. Both teams matched one another step-for-step and the game was tied up at 30 at the half. In the second half both teams came out firing, with each scoring over 50 points. The difference was the Marauders efficiency behind the arc where they shot 7-9 in the second half while West Chester struggled, going 3-7. Five players reached double figures for the Golden Rams including starters, Johnson, McDowell, guard Khalif Foster, and Blake. Mack led all scorers though coming off the bench for 23.
West Chester returned to Hollinger Fieldhouse for the first time in almost a month and a half to take on Shippensburg (6-11, 3-8). The Golden Rams came out and shot a pedestrian 38% in the first half, but made 11 of 12 from the charity stripe to take a seven point lead into the locker room. The second half was much the same with West Chester pounding it in and getting to the line, shooting 14 of 18 in the second half and holding on for the win, 78-74. McDowell led all scorers with 19, Johnson had 16, Blake 15, and Mack again provided a spark off the bench with 14.
The biggest test for West Chester paid a visit to Hollinger Fieldhouse, in the form of Bloomsburg University (13-4, 9-3). The Golden Rams started hot from the field shooting 50% in the first half and hung with the first-place Huskies, taking a five point advantage into the locker rooms. In the second half it was back and forth with neither team being able to put the other away. West Chester made some crucial stops down the stretch and held on for the six point victory, 70-64. Bloomsburg could not find an answer for the triple threat of the West Chester guards as Johnson and Breeden went for 20 and 15 respectively and Mack scored 17 in his first start. Foster pulled down a team high 10 rebounds.
Last Wednesday, West Chester made the short trip to rival Cheyney (3-13, 2-11) for a PSAC East showdown. The last place Wolves managed just one field goal in the first six minutes as the Golden Rams jumped out to a 16-3 lead. Shooting 54% from the field and 81% from the free throw line for the game, West Chester dominated for forty minutes en route to a 79-49 victory. McDowell recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds coming off the bench in his first game back from a leg injury. Starting guards Johnson, and Breeden had 15 and 10, respectively.
With the toughest stretch behind them, West Chester looks to finish the season strong and earn a spot in the PSAC playoffs at the end of February. This week, West Chester starts a four-game home stand, starting with Mansfield (7-11, 4-10) on Wednesday at 8 p.m. and Millersville (6-12, 4-10) on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Riley Wallace is a third-year student at West Chester University. He can be reached at RW718681@wcupa.edu.
*Note- West Chester played a game Saturday against East Stroudsberg that was too late to include in this article. East Stroudsberg won by a final score of 94-82.