(Widener vs. Adrian) / (Wentworth vs. Rowan)
Widener opened up a 10-point lead by halftime and never looked back in a 62-47 triumph over Adrian in a Widener Tip-Off Classic semifinal at Schwartz Center.
The hosts opened the contest on a 9-4 run in the first six minutes, thanks in part to six points from senior Jarrell Nelson (Waldorf, MD), who hit three of his first four field goals.
Adrian fought back, scoring the next six and taking a 14-12 lead with 8:46 to go in the first half, following a 10-3 spurt of its own.
The lead was short-lived, however, and would be Adrian's last of the contest. Nelson slammed home a dunk for a 16-14 Widener lead and the final lead change of the game with just over seven minutes left in the first half. Exactly two minutes later, senior Chris McDevitt (Doylestown, PA) knocked down a 3-pointer, capping a 10-0 Widener surge and giving the Pride a 22-14 advantage.
Widener led 30-20 at the break after shooting 53 percent (10-of-19) in the first half.
Ray Reed sparked a 12-4 Adrian run to cut the deficit to two in the first six minutes of the second half, but the guests would never get any closer. Widener scored the next 12 points, shooting 3-of-3 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line, and held a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Widener's defense held Adrian to 0-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Nelson finished with a game-high 14 points, shooting 6-of-10 from the field for the Pride (1-1). He also hauled in a team-high six rebounds. Junior Jack Brennan (Stratford, NJ) closed with 13 points and junior Onyi Ezeala (Piscataway, NJ) chipped in 11.
Reed finished with 12 points off the bench, shooting 4-of-6 from the field and hitting all four of his free throws for the Bulldogs (0-1). Jovon Mosley closed with 10 points and nine boards.
Rowan in the second game rallied from down 11 for a 68-60 win against Wentworth.
Widener on Saturday takes Rowan in the championship game at 3:00 pm. Wentworth faces Adrian in the consolation game at 1:00 pm.
