Men’s Basketball Loses Second Half Lead

Junior guard #14 Ryan Krawczeniuk led the Warriors in scoring with 17 points. Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki Junior guard #14 Ryan Krawczeniuk led the Warriors in scoring with 17 points. Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki
Junior guard #14 Ryan Krawczeniuk led the Warriors in scoring with 17 points. Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki
Junior guard #14 Ryan Krawczeniuk led the Warriors in scoring with 17 points.
Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki

By Ronald Hanaki
Sports Editor

On Saturday, Feb. 11, the West Chester University Golden Rams defeated ESU’s Men’s Basketball team 100-92 at Hollinger Field House.

ESU led West Chester 28-27 with just over seven minutes left in the first half before the Warriors outscored the Golden Rams 28-9 to close out the first
half.

Both teams shot well from the field, but the Warriors made ten three-point baskets to only four for the Golden Rams in the first half.

Also, ESU’s free throw shooters went 10-10 from the charity stripe, but West Chester only made one free throw in the first half.

That strong first half play enabled ESU to build a 56-39 lead over West Chester at halftime.

Early in the second half, the Warriors led the Golden Rams by as many as 19 points, but a series of miscues by ESU opened the door for West Chester to
gradually climb back into the game.

With just under three minutes left in the game, West Chester’s Jackson Hyland hit a three-point shot to cut ESU’s lead down to three.

On West Chester’s next possession, Hyland scored on a layup and was fouled for an old-fashioned three-point play. With two minutes left in the game, the
game was tied 91-91.

The Golden Rams kept the pressure on the Warriors and outscored ESU 9-1 down the stretch to complete an improbable comeback.

This is the third time that the Warriors have blown second half leads on the road this year. Prior to this game, ESU lost an 11-point lead against
Shippensburg on Jan. 18 and a 7-point lead to Lock Haven on Jan. 28.

Ryan Krawczeniuk led ESU in scoring with 17 points. Rasheed Moore had 16 points, and Steven Stoney added 13 points for the Warriors.

The Warriors are currently in third place in the PSAC East. The third place team will host an opening round game in the postseason PSAC Tournament on
Monday, Feb. 27.

ESU (16-7, 14-4) returns home to play Bloomsburg this Saturday afternoon.

Email Ronald at:
rhanaki@live.esu.edu