(box score)
Widener eradicated a 14-point deficit from early in the second half and took the lead, only to suffer a 74-72 loss at Swarthmore in both teams season opener.
Widener, which was down 46-32 just over a minute into the second half, found itself in a 70-62 hole with 3:09 left after Sean Conroe hit 1-of-2 from the line for Swarthmore.
The Pride (0-1) scored six straight points to close to 70-68 with 1:53 remaining, capped on a jumper in the lane from junior Perry Wright (Severn, MD). Will Gates made 1-of-2 from the stripe for the Garnet with 1:31 to go for a three-point contest.
Junior BJ Smith (Baltimore, MD) hit a layup for Widener and was fouled with 1:16 to go for a 71-70 deficit. He missed the free throw and got his own rebound, but the new possession went to waste after junior Onyi Ezeala (Piscataway, NJ) missed two free throws with 58 seconds left.
Widener put on its trademark pressure and it worked with Smith getting the steal at midcourt. Freshman Andrew Radomicki (Media, PA) took the ball and went the distance to lay it in for the Pride's first lead, 72-71 with 42 seconds left, since 2-0.
Gates missed a close shot for the Garnet (1-0) and the ball went out of bounds in favor of the home team. Swarthmore benefited from the reprieve as Jordan Martinez made a layup with 17 seconds to play for a 73-72 contest.
Wright missed a 3-pointer from the left corner and the rebound was corralled by Jordan Federer, who nailed 1-of-2 from the stripe for a 74-72 Garnet lead.
Widener had one last chance to tie and got a great look, but Wright missed a driving layup at the buzzer.
Senior Jarrell Nelson (Waldorf, MD) had 18 points and nine rebounds, junior Jack Brennan (Stratford, NJ) added 14 and nine with Wright scoring 14 points. Widener shot 44 percent (30-of-73) from the floor in the second half, but only was 10-of-24 from the line overall.
Ryan Carmichael scored 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting with four 3-pointers, Gates netted 14 points with three 3-pointers and Martinez also scored 14 points for the Garnet. Jordan Cheney had eight rebounds and eight blocks.
The Pride on Friday play Adrian to open the Widener Tip-Off Classic, beginning at 6:00 pm. The second semifinal features Wentworth versus Rowan, starting at 8:00 pm.
