(box score)
Widener did not trail in regulation, leading by as many as 13 in the second half, but all the drama and heroics went DeSales way in a crushing 92-87 double-overtime loss in Center Valley, PA.
Widener (8-4) appeared in great shape with seven seconds left in the first overtime when junior Chris McDevitt (Doylestown, PA) drilled a jumper for a 77-76 lead. Things looked even better when DeSales All-America Darnell Braswell committed an offensive foul, barreling into sophomore Jack Brennan (Stratford, NJ) with 2.6 seconds remaining.
Sophomore BJ Smith (Baltimore, MD) nailed two free throws with two seconds to go for a 79-76 Pride cushion. All looked good for a huge victory against the "Elite Eight" participant from last year, but Braswell had other ideas.
Atoning for his offensive foul and two missed free throws earlier in the stanza, Braswell brought the house down via "Pacer," the play used by Bryce Drew and Valparaiso to stun Mississippi in the 1998 NCAA Tournament. Braswell took a quick pass from Brett Moyer and drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 79-79 tie.
The Bulldogs (8-4) scored the first 11 points of the second overtime before the Pride clawed back. McDevitt hit two 3-pointers, the latter with 40 seconds remaining for a 90-85 game, and Smith drilled a jumper with 11 seconds to go for a three-point deficit. But Braswell converted twice from the line with seven seconds left for the final.
McDevitt scored 16 points and sophomore Onyi Ezeala (Piscataway, NJ) added 14 for the Pride, who shot 40 percent (33-of-82) from the floor. Senior Jamarr Johnson (Pittsgrove, NJ) ended with 11 rebounds.
McDevitt was named to the all-tournament team of the Casa Mia Holiday Tournament, ending with 23 points and seven rebounds over two games.
Brian Hunter scored 23 points with Braswell adding 22 and 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who shot 46 percent (31-of-67) from the field and won despite hitting only 20-for-32 from the line.
Widener on Saturday looks to bounce back as it visits Messiah for a 4:00 pm start in Grantham, PA.
