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Widener used torrid shooting and two big runs to notch its sixth victory in seven outings, an 80-69 Commonwealth Conference triumph at Elizabethtown.
Freshman Perry Wright (Severn, MD) scored four points during a 9-0 run as Widener (11-4, 2-1 CC) opened a 37-24 lead with 2:21 left in the first half. The Pride shot 50 percent (18-of-36) from the field in the half for a 40-31 lead.
The Blue Jays (8-8, 2-2) closed to 42-35 early in the second half, but the Pride netted 10 straight points in just over two minutes for a 52-35 cushion with 16:05 remaining. Senior Matt Sosna (Stratford, NJ) scored five points in that span, capping it with a three-point play.
Senior Charles Jones (Philadelphia, PA) scored 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting for Widener, which shot 57 percent (13-of-23) from the field in the second half and 53 percent (31-of-59) overall.
Sosna had 15 points and eight rebounds with junior Jamarr Johnson (Pittsgrove, NJ) adding 10. Sophomore Jarrell Nelson (Waldorf, MD) and freshman Jack Brennan (Stratford, NJ) scored eight points apiece off the bench.
Widener led by as many as 68-48 with 8:39 remaining and never trailed. It remains tied atop the conference with Arcadia and Albright.
Keith Fogel scored 10 points with Mike Church adding nine and seven rebounds for the Blue Jays, who shot only 40 percent (25-of-62) from the floor and 50 percent (13-of-26) from the line.
Widener is home Tuesday against Arcadia at 8:00 pm. Fans attending the doubleheader with the women's team are asked to bring a canned good or make a donation to City Team Ministries. It also is our “Gold Rush” on Widener Pride Day, with all from the University in attendance receiving a gold t-shirt.
