EDINBORO, Pa. – Jaymon Mason reached 30 points for the sixth time in his career and continued his climb up the career scoring charts, but it wasn't enough to avoid a fifth straight loss after a pair of wins to start the season. Edinboro dropped an 81-70 decision to West Chester on Sunday afternoon at McComb Fieldhouse in a PSAC crossover contest to fall to 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the PSAC. West Chester is now 4-4 and 3-1, respectively.

Mason paced the Fighting Scots and matched the point total of PSAC scoring leader Malik Jackson with 30 points. The junior guard enjoyed a strong shooting day despite being hounded by the Golden Rams, making 7-of-14 field goals, including 6-of-9 3-pointers, and going a perfect 10-for-10 at the line. He added seven rebounds and seven assists, along with a pair of steals. He moved into 27th place in career scoring with 1,078 points. Mason has now scored 30 points twice this year, along with four times a year ago.

Jackson, who came in as the PSAC's scoring leader at 22.2 ppg., scored his 30 points on a 9-for-19 chart from the field, making 5-of-10 3-pointers, along with 7-of-8 at the line.

After falling behind by 12 points early in the game at 22-10, Edinboro used a 16-2 run to take a 26-25 lead with 4:19 left in the first half on a pair of Mason free throws. The Golden Rams would eventually take a 35-31 lead at the half, thanks in large part to a 22-4 advantage in scoring in the paint.

A Mason three started the second half, with Jackson Hyland answering with a jumper for WCU. Mikael Anderson's jumper gave Edinboro its biggest lead of the game at 39-37 with 18:41 left to play.
 

Unfortunately, West Chester responded with a 19-2 run over the next seven minutes as Edinboro turned the ball over six times and missed all four shots during that stretch. That gave the Golden Rams a 56-41 lead.  The run eventually grew to 28-6 as WCU took a 65-45 lead with 9:22 to play.

The Fighting Scots would make one run at the Golden Rams, scoring nine straight points to close the gap to 72-61 with 4:32 remaining. Mason started the run with a three, with Anderson scoring the next six points on a free throw, a layup, and a 3-pointer.

West Chester halted the run with the next six markers, however, before Edinboro scored the final six points of the game to close the gap to 11 at the end.

Anderson was the only other Fighting Scot in double figures, as the senior forward posted his first career double-double with 18 points, one shy of his career high, and a career-best 12 rebounds.

In addition to Jackson, West Chester had three more players in double digits. Jackson Hyland finished with 16 points, Matt Penecale 15, and Thomas White 10.

Turnovers hurt the Fighting Scots all afternoon. Edinboro committed 24 turnovers that West Chester used for a 34-9 advantage in points off turnovers, as WCU had 14 miscues. Edinboro would end the day shooting 41.7 percent from the floor (20-of-48), and was 12-of-24 on 3-pointers. The Fighting Scots also made 18-of-26 free throws. West Chester shot 45.3 percent (29-of-64) and made 16-of-21 free throws. Edinboro held a 36-32 lead on the glass, but it was West Chester outscoring the Scots in the paint, 36-10.

The going doesn't get any easier for the Fighting Scots as they play at Notre Dame(Ohio) on Wednesday, December 7.