(Widener vs. Saint Joseph's) / (Regis vs. Rowan)
Junior Chris McDevitt (Doylestown, PA) scored 12 of his 15 points in the first half, when Widener opened a huge lead in a 112-58 triumph over Saint Joseph's (Brooklyn) in the Oki Data Americas Tip-Off at Schwartz Center.
McDevitt shot 4-of-5 from the floor and 2-of-3 from 3-point range to help Widener (2-0) open an alarming 64-27 halftime lead. Sophomores BJ Smith (Baltimore, MD) and Perry Wright (Severn, MD) scored 11 points apiece in that span and senior Jamarr Johnson (Pittsgrove, NJ) grabbed nine rebounds.
All this went a long way in the Pride hitting a scorching 61 percent (22-of-36) from the field and 15-of-19 from the line. The Bears (1-2) made only 30 percent (10-of-33) from the floor in that span and 3-of-9 from the line.
Wright ended with 15 points, sophomore Jack Brennan (Stratford, NJ) scored 14 and Johnson hauled in 10 rebounds for Widener, which shot 58 percent (38-of-66) overall. This marks the second straight year the Pride hit the century mark to open the tournament after notching a 106-53 win over Penn State Brandywine.
Jon Matzelle scored 15 points and Larry Fawcett had 14 for the Bears, who shot 29 percent (18-of-62) overall.
Rowan (2-0) won the second game, 66-60 over Regis (1-1). Tyson Hartnett scored 20 points and Sean Hughes netted 13 for the Profs, who shot 53 percent (12-of-23) in the second half. Ndubisi Ezeigwe scored 14 points and Jesse Vega added 10 for the Pride.
Widener on Saturday hosts Rowan in the final at 3:00 pm, preceded by Regis against Saint Joseph's (Brooklyn) at 1:00 pm. Widener is going for its third straight title in this tournament.