THE MATCH-UP
•   Millersville's stock is trending in the right direction as it enters the thick of PSAC East play. With nine games left on the schedule, and even playing the last four without center
Caden Najdawi, the Marauders have won five of their last seven and have climbed to within one game of Wednesday's opponent--West Chester--for second place in the division. Millersville's two losses in that strech came by a total of two points. The East is a packed race with seven teams within three games of the No. 2 seed. West Chester, climbed up to No. 12 in Division II after a 13-0 start, but it has lost five of the last six including four in a row. West Chester's last four opponents have shot at least 45.5 percent from the field and at least 38.5 percent from three. All four have scored at least 89 points.Â
•   Millersville is growing accustomed to playing close games. Ten of Millersville's games (and eight of the last 12) have been decided by seven points or fewer. It is no coincidence that Millersville has won five of seven. In those seven games, the Marauders' offensive efficiency has been outstanding, shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from three. Millersville has shot better than 45 percent from the field in six of those games. Five players are averaging double-figure scoring in that stretch as well.
Justin Nwosu, who has scored 13 or more points in eight-straight games is averaging 16.3 points on 50.5 percent shooting in the last seven games.
Khari Williams (.400),
James Sullivan (.455),
Mekhi Hendricks (.452) and
Ryan Davis (.458) have all shot over 40 percent from three.Â
•   Davis, the reigning PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week, has scored 20 points in two of the last three games and has averaged a team-leading 17.5 points in just 27.8 minutes over the last four games. He hit 11-of-24 3-pointers in that stretch. Similarly,
Mekhi Hendricks scored 22 against Lock Haven and 21 against Mansfield--his first career games over 20 points. He has hit nine of his last 14 threes.Â
•   West Chester has had Millersville's number lately. West Chester has won 11 in a row over the Marauders--the longest winning streak by either team in the series since Millersville won 13 in a row from 1984-1990. Millersville has struggled to scored against the Golden Rams, failing to top 75 in each of the 11 losses. West Chester, however, has scored at least 75 in each of those games. Only three of those 11 games have been decided by fewer than 10 points. West Chester has won six in a row inside Pucillo Gymnasium--a feat it has never before accomplished.Â
WEST CHESTER GOLDEN RAMS (14-5, 8-5 PSAC)
SERIES INFORMATION
Series vs. WCU: 97-104
Series Streak: WCU, 11
First Meeting: 1904 (L, 10-30)
Last Meeting: 2019 (L, 64-82)
Last 10 Meetings: 0-10
Casey Stitzel vs. WCU: 0-6
Damien Blair vs. Millersville: 17-6
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN RAMS
• West Chester boasts the PSAC's highest-scoring offense, averaging 86.0 points per game. It isnt an efficient offense, shooting 41.7 percent from the field--a number that ranks 16th in the PSAC. West Chester does rank third in 3-pointers made but are 10th in percentage. The key to West Chester's scoring is getting to the foul line and second-chance buckets. The Golden Rams have made 73 more foul shots and attempted 111 more than any other team in the PSAC. They averaged more than 21 free throw makes per game. On the glass, West Chester leads the PSAC with 44.4 rebounds and 15.7 offensive rebounds per game.Â
THE LAST MEETING (Feb. 6, 2019 - WCU 82, Millersville 64)
•  A nightmarish first half at the offensive end put Millersville down 20 at the half, and the Marauders could not recover as West Chester won 82-64. Millersville scored just 19 first half points, shooting 6-of-30 from the field and 5-of-10 from the free throw line while committing 10 turnovers. West Chester's zone defense often gave the Marauders looks from three, but the visitors converted on just 2-of-14 in the first half and 8-for-27 (.296) in the game.
LAST 10 MEETINGS
2/6/19 (at West Chester) - West Chester 82, Millersville 64
1/5/2019 (at Millersville) - West Chester 72, Millersville 63
1/31/2018 (at West Chester) - West Chester 107, Millersville 63
1/3/2018 (at Millersville) - West Chester 75, Millersville 73
2/22/2017 (at Millersville) - West Chester 80, Millersville 75
1/18/17 (at West Chester) - West Chester 80, Millersville 67
2/20/16 (at Millersville) - West Chester 81, Millersville 63
1/20/16 (at West Chester) - West Chester 101, Millersville 59
1/28/2015 (at Millersville) - West Chester 79, Millersville 72
11/19/2014 (at West Chester) - West Chester 78, Millersville 49
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