(boxscore)

Widener received some timely foul shooting during its decisive run to remain atop the Commonwealth Conference with a 68-62 victory at Arcadia in Glenside, PA.

In a tightly-contested battle, neither team led by more than five points during a majority of the second half.  Arcadia (8-12, 3-5 CC) capped a 12-7 spurt to open a 53-51 lead on Terrell Varnado's layup with 4:21 left.

But the Pride (15-5, 5-2) exploded on a 15-2 spurt that helped them take a 66-55 lead with 23 seconds remaining.  Widener shot 8-for-8 from the line during that stretch and 10-for-10 in the final 1:23.

Senior Charles Jones (Philadelphia, PA) hit a jumper with 4:12 to play for a 53-53 tie.  Junior Jamarr Johnson (Pittsgrove, NJ) made 1-of-2 from the stripe and added a putback layup for a 56-53 cushion with 2:49 left.

After Damien Palantino's bucket with 2:17 to go for a 56-55 game, the Pride netted 10 straight to close the run.  Jones and senior Nyere Miller (Washington, DC) scored four points apiece in that span.

Jones poured in 17 points, senior Matt Sosna (Stratford, NJ) had 15 and eight rebounds with Miller netting 13 for Widener, which shot 44 percent (24-of-55) from the floor.  Johnson hauled in eight rebounds to help Widener garner a 39-23 edge.

Palantino scored 21 points and Darnell Mills added 10 for the Knights, who shot 49 percent (26-of-53) but committed 22 turnovers.

Widener sits one game ahead of Albright (4-3) and 1 1/2 games in front of both Elizabethtown and Messiah (4-4) in the conference.

Widener is home Saturday against Elizabethtown as part of our "Basketball Blowout."  We invite all Widener and PMC alumni to attend the doubleheader, which begins with the women's game at 1:00 pm and ends with the men's contest at 3:00 pm.