Box Score WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Freshman
Malik Jackson (Lansdowne, Pa./Penn Wood) scored a game-high 27 points, but it was not enough as West Chester fell to Mercyhurst, 70-67, inside Hollinger Field House Sunday afternoon for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship.
Jackson scored the first bucket of the game and ended with a total 14 points in the first half, shooting 5-for-9 from the field, including a 26-footer to put the Golden Rams up seven at the break (44-37).
The Golden Rams (23-6) now wait to see where they will be seeded toward the NCAA Tournament tonight at 10:30 p.m. Mercyhurst (21-8) won its first PSAC title in the school's history and receive the automatic qualifier tag into the NCAA Tournament as well. WCU led by as much as 11 points and throughout the game had a distinct advantage. It was not until the 8:49-minute mark in the second half where the Lakers took their first lead of the game.
Tyrell Long (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) went a perfect 5-for-5 from the field for 12 points in the first 20 minutes, but was limited to only two points in the second half for 14 altogether.
Matt Penecale (Jenkintown, Pa./Abington) added 10 points, five assists and four rebounds. The team shot 18-for-26 (69.2%) from the field in the first half, but cooled down in the second, scoring only 20 points, including three points in the opening 10 minutes of the half.
Kayode Ajenifuja contributed 14 points with six rebounds and was named championship most valuable player. Jean Onana registered a team-high 19 points while Damon Jones added 13 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Gerrae Williams recorded 11 points in limited action.
West Chester is still on a journey for its first PSAC championship since 1959 back when the NCAA crowned the regular season victor as the supreme leader. However, the team is headed back to the NCAAs for the first time since 2014 and await the NCAA Tournament selection show tonight at 10:30 p.m. to find out where they are seeded and the opponent that they will face next weekend.
