Box Score
WEST CHESTER - Senior forward
Chris Bach had 14 points and 21 rebounds, the most by an East Stroudsburg University player in 20 years, but it wasn't enough to put the Warriors in the PSAC playoffs as West Chester pulled out a 60-55 win on Saturday at Hollinger Fieldhouse.
The loss, combined with Mansfield's 78-74 win over Millersville, leaves the Warriors (16-11, 7-7) out of the postseason for the first time in four years. Mansfield will travel to No. 1 seed Kutztown and Cheyney will host West Chester in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. ESU has won at least 16 games in four straight seasons for the first time in 82 years of varsity basketball.
Bach's 21 rebounds are tied for the fifth-most in school history and the most since Jonathan Roberts pulled down 21 boards against Kutztown in 1989. Earle Greer also had 21 rebounds in a game in 1983.
Kenneth St. George scored 18 points and was 14-of-16 at the foul line to lead West Chester (18-9, 9-5) in a game that featured 62 fouls and 76 free throw attempts. Bach was 10-of-12 at the foul line, the fifth time he made at least 10 free throws in a game, and ends the season with 166 made free throws, fourth in school history. Roberts holds the top three spots and is the PSAC career record-holder.
The Warriors trailed 12-2 through the first 10 minutes and 28-21 at halftime, but battled back to pull within one (30-29) on a three-pointer by junior guard Andy Heimbach with 17:26 to play.
West Chester's lead stayed between two and seven points the rest of the way, with ESU pulling within one possession six times over the next 15 minutes, and Heimbach's third three of the game made it 50-47 with 2:45 to play.
Forward Ralph Hegamin made a three to put West Chester ahead 54-49 with 1:02 left, and the rest of the game was decided at the foul line. The Golden Rams were 26-for-42 for the game, and just 6-for-20 without St. George's 14-for-16, before Kehinde Roberts and Isaiah McGree both went 3-for-4 at the line in the final minute.
Both teams shot 30 percent or less for the game, with ESU at 30.0 (15-50) and West Chester checking in at 29.1 (16-55). The Warriors had 29 turnovers, compared to 18 for the Golden Rams, and West Chester made five more free throws - the final margin.
Bach was credited with two blocks, giving him 111 for his career which moves him into fourth in school history. He finishes with 1,016 points in his four-year career, including his freshman season at Philadelphia University, and 529 rebounds in his three years at ESU, just outside ESU's career top 10.
He was also named to the Academic All-America team on Wednesday and is the first ESU basketball player to be honored for academic performance at the national level. Bach averaged 19.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game as a senior.
Senior guard Pat Fleury went over 100 assists for the second straight season and finishes fourth in school history with 345 assists for his career.
Heimbach made three three-pointers against West Chester and will enter his senior year with 160 career three-pointers, two behind the all-time record held by Juwan Justice.
