(box score)

Widener opened a 19-point halftime lead and cruised to a 66-44 victory over Swarthmore in the “320 Challenge” at Schwartz Center.

Sophomore Aaquil Atkins (Alexandria, VA) scored all nine of his points in the first half for Widener (6-2), which took a 38-19 lead by holding Swarthmore (1-6) to just 26 percent (7-of-27) shooting.

BJ Smith (Baltimore, MD) had 11 points and nine rebounds overall with fellow sophomore Jack Brennan (Stratford, NJ) scoring 10 points for Widener, which allowed just the visitors to hit only 29 percent (14-of-49) from the floor.

The Pride held a commanding 48-32 rebounding edge and committed just 12 turnovers in posting their third victory in the last four outings.

Ryan Carmichael scored nine points off the bench and Sam Lacy added seven for the Garnet, who shot 5-of-15 from beyond the arc and 11-for-23 from the line.

The victory moves Widener to a 5-4 deficit in the “320 Challenge,” a season-long battle for supremacy among the schools 19 shared points.  The next contest between the schools features the women's basketball teams Thursday at Schwartz Center.

Widener on Wednesday visits Gwynedd-Mercy at 6:00 pm.  It begins a five-game road trip and a four-game run against teams which last season competed in the NCAA Tournament.