(box score)
Widener made big shots when they had to and shut down a persistent squad in Richard Stockton for a crucial 77-72 overtime victory at Schwartz Center.
Junior Jack Brennan (Stratford, NJ) connected on 4-of-4 from the line in the final 26 seconds, the last two with 12 seconds remaining for a 63-60 Widener lead. But DiAndre Brown, who was 0-of-2 from 3-point range to this point, drilled the tying bucket from the right wing with 5.7 seconds left.
The Pride (2-2) seemingly had things in hand, opening the extra period on an 8-1 run for a 71-64 lead with 1:45 to play. Junior Onyi Ezeala (Piscataway, NJ) canned a 3-pointer in the first 12 seconds and Brennan also netted three in that span.
Kai Massaquoi drilled a 3-pointer for the Ospreys with 1:36 left and Matt Haddix made two from the stripe for a 71-69 contest with 1:09 remaining.
Free throw shooting had been Widener's albatross so far, but the squad came up big by hitting all six attempts in the final 29 seconds. Freshman Andrew Radomicki (Media, PA) started things with a pair for a 73-69 cushion.
Justin Wilson nailed a 3-pointer for the Ospreys with 19 seconds left for a 73-72 deficit, but Brennan followed with two free throws for a three-point margin. Massaquoi missed long from beyond the arc and Ezeala canned two from the line with 10 seconds to go for the final.
Brennan had 15 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the year and freshman Woody Redding (Philadelphia, PA) also scored 15 points for the Pride. Jarrell Nelson (Waldorf, MD) had 11 points and eight rebounds with fellow senior Chris McDevitt (Doylestown, PA) adding 10 points.
Widener got it done from the line, hitting 28-for-35 overall that included 7-for-9 in overtime. Brennan was 9-for-11, Nelson 7-for-8 and Redding 5-for-6. The defense also played a part, limiting the Ospreys to just 39 percent shooting (22-of-56) which included 2-of-8 in overtime.
Massaquoi had 31 points, eight rebounds, five assists, five steals and shot 12-for-16 from the line for Richard Stockton (2-2). Haddix contributed 10 points and nine rebounds with Nnamdi Usuwa adding 10 points.
Widener will enjoy a much-needed rest before hosting Cabrini on Monday at 8:00 pm as part of a doubleheader at Schwartz Center. The women battle King's at 6:00 pm.
