WEST CHESTER >> Maybe it was because the pressure of a lengthy season-opening win streak had dissipated. Perhaps it was a matter of taking advantage of a much-needed reset. Or an angry response to some adversity.
Whatever the reason, just two days after blowing a lead and nearly giving up triple digits to Bloomsburg, the West Chester men rebounded forcefully from the season’s first setback to pummel Cheyney, 99-51, in the first of two regular season meetings between cross-county rivals.
“We needed that,” said WCU head coach Damien Blair. “In our three or four prior games it just felt like we were in a rut. We just weren’t playing as hard as I wanted them to play. It seems like the Bloomsburg loss kind of opened our eyes a bit, and maybe we are not as good as we think we are.”
As it turned out, Wednesday was a bad day for the Wolves to visit Hollinger Field House – and they wouldn’t have if not for a two week problem with the heating system at Cheyney’s Cope Hall. The clash was moved to South Campus and the Golden Rams used the opportunity to pair one of its better shooting days with, perhaps, its best defensive effort.
“We believe this was our only complete performance this season. All of the other games, we would win but only play hard 30 to 35 minutes a game,” said senior guard Tyrell Long.
“We’ve been talking about that for at least three weeks,” Blair added. “Previously, once we got a lead, we didn’t execute as well and had no urgency on the defensive end. We did both of that (Wednesday).”
Currently ranked 17th nationally in Division II by the National Basketball Coaches Association, WCU improves to 9-1 in the PSAC East and is a stellar 13-1 overall.
“Watching West Chester on film and then playing those guys is a totally different story,” said CU head coach Dawud Morris. “They are very quick in transition, they have great size, they are good on the boards and they run a great system here under coach Blair.”
Despite going over a month without playing a true home game, Cheyney (2-7, 2-11) has already equaled last season’s entire win total. But it was the Wolves sixth loss in the last seven outings.
“We are dealing with a lot of young men and what we are going through right now at our university – unable to practice in our home gym, unable to host home games – it’s like these guys minds aren’t on basketball,” Morris explained.
“It was a tough spot against a nationally ranked team. Whether it was on our home court or there’s, (WCU) is a pretty-well rounded team. If they would have come to Cope Hall, I’m pretty sure they would have brought it there as well, especially coming off a loss.”
Defensively, the Rams limited CU to 33 percent shooting from the floor, allowed just one 3-pointer and were plus-10 on the boards. And offensively, WCU connected on a healthy 58 percent of its shots, shot 53 percent from beyond the arc, and five players scored in double figures, led by Long’s 21.
“I am just happy we defended and played a West Chester brand of basketball,” Blair said.
“Against Bloomsburg, we just assumed we were going to come back and win that game,” Long said. “I think we were just so excited about the roll we were on, we just kind of lost focus of how to win the game.”
Long wound up scoring 12 of WCU’s first 19 points and the Wolves managed to score just six points in the opening 10 minutes. By halftime, the Rams had doubled up on the Wolves, 44-22.
“I try to let the game come to me, but I did tell myself after the Bloomsburg game that through hell or high water, I am not letting my team slip – I don’t care what it takes, I can’t let my team lose,” Long said.
It was 77-37 with about eight minutes on the clock, so Blair emptied his bench. And the WCU backups proceeded to extend the lead.
“Things seemed to fall into place,” Blair pointed out. “It’s tough to play at Cheyney, so for us to get an extra home game was big. And even though it wasn’t much of a crowd, the kids created their own energy and I am proud of them.”
Matt Penecale scored 14, Terrence Moore added 12 off the bench and Frank Rokins chipped in 11 for West Chester. The Rams are scheduled at play at Lock Haven on Saturday before back-to-back division showdowns next week with East Stroudsburg and Shippensburg.
West Chester 99, Cheyney 51
CHEYNEY – Boney 3-6 2-3 8; McGlond 1-2 0-0 2; Ugo 1-4 0-0 2; Parker 2-13 1-2 5; St. Juste 5-12 2-2 12; Stewart 2-8 2-3 6; Bailey 4-9 1-2 9; Biney 1-2 2-2 5; Jones 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 19-58 12-16 51.
WEST CHESTER – Hyland 3-6 3-4 10; Toro 2-8 1-5 5; Rokins 3-7 5-7 11; Penecale 4-5 5-5 14; Long 7-7 4-6 21; Daly 3-4 0-0 8; Longino 0-2 2-2 2; Smith 0-2 1-2 1; Moore 5-5 2-3 12; Guerrera 2-5 0-0 5; Jenkins 1-2 24-38 99.
Halftime: West Chester 44-22.
Three-point goals: Biney, Hyland, Penecale, Long 3, Daly 2, Collins, Guerrera.
