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2/27/08 -- Sophomore Bobby Edmunds (Linwood, NJ) and junior Matt Sosna (Stratford, NJ) sparked a late run that propelled Widener a 67-53 victory at Albright in the Commonwealth Conference semifinals in Reading, PA.
Third-seeded Widener (21-5) is off to the final for a third straight year and fourth time in five seasons. The team will battle No. 1 seed Lycoming on Saturday in Williamsport, PA at a time to be determined.
No. 2 seed Albright (16-8) found itself in a 51-42 hole with 10:22 left before going on an 8-2 run for a 53-50 contest with 6:54 to play. Tom Murphy and Andre Murphy each had a basket in that span.
But that would be the last time the home team was heard from, playing before a partisan crowd of 1,131. Widener ended the contest on a 14-3 run thanks to five points apiece from Edmunds and Sosna.
Edmunds began the spurt on a 3-pointer for a 56-50 lead with 6:25 remaining. Sophomore Jamarr Johnson (Pittsgrove, NJ) made it an eight-point game with 4:31 to go on a jumper.
Tom Murphy's free throw with 4:16 left cut it to a 58-51 contest, but Widener has a quick answer. Sosna tipped in a missed 3-pointer from junior Nyere Miller (Washington, DC) and was fouled by Tom Murphy. He completed the three-point play with 3:41 to go for a 61-51 margin.
The Lions missed five shots on their next possession and Edmunds all but sealed it by hitting 1-of-2 from the line with 2:12 left for a 62-51 lead.
Edmunds poured in 10 of his team-high 14 points after intermission and Sosna scored nine of his 12 points following the break. Johnson closed with nine points and six rebounds with Miller and junior Charles Jones (Philadelphia, PA) adding eight apiece.
Widener won this game on the line, shooting 21-for-29 versus 7-for-12 for Albright. The Pride starters were 15-for-20 and the Lions first five hit just 4-for-8.
This overcame a poor shooting night for both teams as Widener hit only 37 percent (22-of-60) and Albright converted 34 percent (21-of-61).
Albert Medoro scored 19 points and Kyle Brudvig hauled in 10 rebounds for the Lions, who posted a 46-39 edge on the glass.
Widener is ranked third in the latest NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional poll and earlier this season received votes eight straight weeks in the D3Hoops.com Top 25 poll.
