Box Score

WEST CHESTER - Frank Rokins blocked the game-tying layup at the buzzer as No. 18-ranked West Chester held off East Stroudsburg University, 76-74, in PSAC East men's basketball on Wednesday night at Hollinger Field House.

ESU (11-4, 8-3), which trailed 69-56 with 7:01 remaining, rallied to pull within three (71-68) with 2:30 left, then closed the margin to two twice before Rokins chased down an open-court layup attempt by junior guard Kitt Najee Walls to seal the win for West Chester (15-1, 11-1), the PSAC East leader.

Redshirt senior forward Steve Harris had 10 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, sophomore forward Kobi Nwandu scored 10 points and six players scored between seven and nine points for ESU, which was looking for its second road win at a PSAC division leader in the last week after an 85-82 victory at IUP last Wednesday.

Tyrell Long had 22 points and nine rebounds, Rokins had 13 points and eight boards, Matt Penecale had 11 points, six rebounds and seven assists and Steve Smith had 10 points, all in the first half, for West Chester.

The Golden Rams, who fell 98-90 at Bloomsburg last Monday for their only loss after a 12-0 start, extended their PSAC East lead over Kutztown (13-2, 9-2), Shippensburg (12-3, 8-2) and ESU (11-4, 8-3). ESU hosts Kutztown and Shippensburg hosts West Chester on Saturday.

Junior guard Nick Giordano and freshman guard Marc Rodriguez scored nine points each, redshirt junior guard Jakwan Jones scored eight, and senior guard Ryan Krawczeniuk, sophomore guard Montrel Morgan and Walls all scored seven points for ESU. Walls also had seven assists, and Giordano had five assists and five of ESU's 12 steals.

After a slow offensive start for both teams - WCU led 12-10 10 minutes into the game, and entered fourth in the PSAC in scoring defense (69.5) and second in field goal defense (40.3) - the pace picked up over the remainder of the first half.

ESU used a 7-0 run to go in front 19-14 at the 7:30 mark of the first half, before West Chester scored 18 straight - including four three-pointers, two by Smith and one a four-point play - to open a 32-19 lead with 4:30 left in the half.

The Warriors closed the margin to 37-35 at halftime with a 16-5 run, including six points in the final 50 seconds.

In the second half, ESU pulled even at 47-all on three free throws by Jones with 16:18 left before WCU opened its lead again. Rokin and Penecale scored nine each in a 22-9 span that put the Golden Rams in front, 69-56, with 7:01 left.

A 12-2 run, with Walls and Giordano hitting a pair of three's within 45 seconds, brought ESU within 71-68.

Long scored twice at the end of the shot clock for West Chester - making it 73-68 with 1:53 left, and then 76-72 with 38.1 seconds remaining - around ESU buckets by Harris and Krawczeniuk.

Walls ran the ball back at WCU after the second buzzer-beater and scored to make it 76-74 with 32.5 seconds remaining.

ESU elected not to foul and ultimately forced a turnover under the WCU basket with just over five seconds left, but Rokin ran down the game-tying layup to end it.

West Chester, third in the PSAC in rebounding margin, had a 48-36 advantage on the glass.

ESU, the DII leader in turnovers forced (23.4 per game) and steals (13.2 per game) and second in turnover margin (+9.3), had a 21-18 edge with 12 steals.

Harris had his second straight double-double, third of the season and 13th of his career for ESU. He had 11 points and 13 rebounds in a 98-62 win vs. Bloomsburg on Saturday.

GAME NOTES
* ESU falls to 15-5 vs West Chester since the start of the 2009-10 season (WCU has won 3 of 4)
* WCU has won 3 straight on its home floor (ESU had won previous 5, including 2012 PSAC championship)
* PSAC East's top records since 2009-10:
   ESU - .721 (181-70) overall, .726 (119-45) PSAC
   WCU - .603 (156-86) overall, .630 (104-61) PSAC