Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
WCU hangs onto lead in PSAC East
WCU pushes win streak to 10, hangs onto lead in PSAC East
WEST CHESTER >> If Wednesday’s PSAC crossover clash against Pitt-Johnstown is any indication, the PSAC Tournament in about a month is going to be a battle of attrition and toughness for the West Chester men’s basketball team.
The Golden Rams mustered all they could physically – and needed it – to get past the Mountain Cats 70-58 on Wednesday at Hollinger Field House. It was the squad’s 10th victory in a row and WCU maintains sole possession of first place in the PSAC East at 11-2 (15-5 overall). Pitt-Johnstown falls to 7-6, 12-8.
“(The referees) let us play,” said West Chester head coach Damien Blair. “It was a lot more physical than it has been for the last week and a half. I prefer it be more physical because we have the bodies and the depth to be able to run guys in and use some of those fouls.”
And even though the Rams never trailed, it was a battle that wasn’t decided until the waning minutes when two UPJ starters had fouled out and WCU scored eight of the final nine points of the game.
“(Pitt-Johnstown) is talented. It’s a good win for us,” Blair said.
“No game is going to be perfect or clean, but luckily we came out with the ‘W,’” said 6-foot-9 junior center Tim Toro.
“We like the physicality part, especially in a tough league like the PSAC. We implement it into our game plan.”
West Chester limited UPJ to 37 percent shooting, was plussix on the boards and forced 18 turnovers. And with big guys like Toro, Frank Rokins and Jackson Hyland, the Rams outscored the Cats 36-24 in the paint.
“We just keep grinding and we don’t care what the scoreboard says,” said Toro, who had 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
“(Blair) is a hungry coach. We are inspired to play for him. Nothing is ever too much for him – if you want to play, you play hard. And if you want to win games, you have to bust your butt for it.”
The Rams led by as much as 16 midway through the second half after Rokins and Evan-Eric Longino nailed back-to-back 3-pointers. But with 2:45 left on the clock, UPJ had whittled the lead down to five, 62-57.
That’s when senior guard Matt Penecale started the final push with a driving bucket, and Rokins followed with two straight steals. And even though WCU connected on just four of eight free throws down the stretch, it was enough.
West Chester was a sickly 16-for-30 from the line for the game.
“That was the difference between a 20-point win and a 12-point win,” Blair said. “But they found a way to win and I have to give them credit for grinding it out.”
In the fourth quarter, Penecale became WCU’s all-time assist leader, surpassing Ricky Hicks previous mark of 555 set 28 years ago. In addition, the senior is closing in on another milestone: 1,000 career points. A point guard from Jenkintown, Penecale needs just six points to become the third Rams player this season to reach the mark, joining Malik Jackson and Jackson Hyland.
“It was great to see Penecale accomplish a huge milestone, but that’s been on his mind. And it’s been on my mind because it’s been on his,” Blair said. “Hopefully soon we can get back to who we are and not worrying about milestones and focus on wins.”
Hyland finished with 14 points, Longino had 13 off the bench and Rokins broke out of a slump to score 13 and add 10 rebounds.
“It’s going to have to be somebody different every night,” Blair said. “(UPJ) didn’t pay much attention to Tim (Toro) and Frank (Rokins) was non-existent because he fouled out that last few games.”
The biggest revelation was Toro, who played well in the early portion of the season, but suffered a concussion last month and has been struggling to return to his early form.
“That was the Tim that I saw in the beginning of the season,” Blair said. “That’s what I know he can do. It’s good that he kind of got out of his own way and started to attack the basket.”
Toro added: “I did play well in the beginning of the season and I’ve been hoping to get back to it. I had a speed bump with the concussion, and right now I am trying to work out the kinks.”