2008 Woodie Awards
Men's hoops clinches playoff berth
Matt Smith
Issue date: 2/21/05 Section: Athletics
- Page 1 of 2 next >
The West Chester University menʼs basketball helped themselves clinch a PSAC East playoff berth Saturday afternoon at Hollinger Field House with a thrilling 52-51 victory over division rivalEast Stroudsburg University. Trailing 51-50 with 10 seconds remaining in the game, junior forward Azim Jones came through with what turned out to be the game-winning basket for the Golden Rams (17-9, 7-4). Mansfieldʼs win over Kutztown on Saturday afternoon guaranteed the Golden Rams a spot in the playoffs for the ninth straight season.
The Golden Ramsʼ stingy defense caused the Warriors (12-13, 5-5) to turn the ball over with half a minute left in regulation, which allowed the Golden Rams to control the clock on the subsequent drive, holding for the last shot. Jones found a seam in the defense and powered his way into the paint to distribute two of his eight points in the game. The Golden Rams trailed 31-28 at halftime, converting only 9-of-22 field goal attempts in the first half (40.9 percent). The team continued to struggle offensively in the second half (6-19, 30.6 percent).
Despite a poor offensive performance - the lowest score total in a victory all season - the team received contributions late in the game and when it mattered the most.Sophomore Lenwood Greenwood, who led all scorers with 11 points, was injured early in the second half and unable to return. Greenwood ʼs absence allowed players such as Jones and Chad Becker to step up, in addition to starting center Aaron Williams, who saw limited action due to foul trouble. Williams, who is shooting nearly 60 percent from the field this season, finished with nine points before failing out. Williams also added five critical defensive rebounds. Becker finished with five points.
Star point guard Matt Kurtz was held at bay for most of the game, only scoring nine points. Kurtz shot a mere 2-for-5 from the field, and only one three point basket. Kurtz, who came into the game as the Golden Rams leading scorer in points (14.2 pg) and three point baskets (2.2 pg), was mostly unsuccessful in finding open looks.
The Golden Ramsʼ stingy defense caused the Warriors (12-13, 5-5) to turn the ball over with half a minute left in regulation, which allowed the Golden Rams to control the clock on the subsequent drive, holding for the last shot. Jones found a seam in the defense and powered his way into the paint to distribute two of his eight points in the game. The Golden Rams trailed 31-28 at halftime, converting only 9-of-22 field goal attempts in the first half (40.9 percent). The team continued to struggle offensively in the second half (6-19, 30.6 percent).
Despite a poor offensive performance - the lowest score total in a victory all season - the team received contributions late in the game and when it mattered the most.Sophomore Lenwood Greenwood, who led all scorers with 11 points, was injured early in the second half and unable to return. Greenwood ʼs absence allowed players such as Jones and Chad Becker to step up, in addition to starting center Aaron Williams, who saw limited action due to foul trouble. Williams, who is shooting nearly 60 percent from the field this season, finished with nine points before failing out. Williams also added five critical defensive rebounds. Becker finished with five points.
Star point guard Matt Kurtz was held at bay for most of the game, only scoring nine points. Kurtz shot a mere 2-for-5 from the field, and only one three point basket. Kurtz, who came into the game as the Golden Rams leading scorer in points (14.2 pg) and three point baskets (2.2 pg), was mostly unsuccessful in finding open looks.
RSS Feed