How to Follow: The contest will be broadcasted on the PSAC Sports Digital Network. On the radio dials, Chuck Seese can be heard pm Bigfoot Country 103.1 FM/840 AM will carry the game. Live stats are available on wcupagoldenrams.com.
The Series: The Golden Rams hold a 92-77 edge in the all-time with series with a pair of wins this season. Its first victory of 2022-23 snapped a six-game Warrior winning streak, which began in the 2018-19 season. Wednesday’s meeting will be the seventh meeting that the two foes have met in the PSAC Tournament, with ESU holding a 4-2 edge. WCU leads 2-0 in quarterfinal matchups against ESU at Hollinger Fieldhouse. The Warriors earned a PSAC Championship at Hollinger Fieldhouse in 2012 and defeated the Golden Rams in the 2014 PSAC Championship at Koehler Fieldhouse.
About the Warriors: ESU looks to keep momentum after a thrilling first-round victory over Shepherd. The tightly-fought battle saw 10 tied scores, eight lead changes and Shepherd held the largest led of the game at nine in the first half. Lakeem McAliley paced ESU with an impressive performance of 26 points and seven rebounds. ESU took its first lead since 2-0 at 62-60 and closed the game strong, not allowing a point the final 2:06 of clock. A 3-pointer from McAliley put ESU up for good at the 1:35 mark at 77-75. Shepherd held possession after an ESU miss, but McAliley drew a charge to give the Warriors possession. Just Paz sunk a pair of clutch free throws to extend its lead to four. In desperation, Shepherd took a shot late with 10 seconds left, as Davon Lee earned the rebound and flung a pass with space to Jaelen McGlone. McGlone got the Warrior faithful on its feet with just five seconds left to extend ESU’s advantage to a game-high six points.
About the Golden Rams: WCU earned a first-round bye, but it was anything but easy. Trailing 1-25 Bloomsburg by 20 points, the Golden Rams rallied late to win in overtime over the Huskies, its second consecutive overtime victory. WCU has found a way to win tight games all season and have won 15 of its last 18 contests, with a pair of losses to PSAC East No. 1 seed Shippensburg and a 79-72 road loss at Millersville on Jan. 25. ESU looks to limit Robert Smith and Elijiah Allen, who both average above 15 points against ESU this season. Smith and Allen combined for 56 points in the lastest meeting at Hollinger Fieldhouse.
