(box score)
Widener ran into red-hot shooting from Gwynedd-Mercy in the second half and suffered an 89-81 loss at Schwartz Center.
A close contest in the final stanza turned the Griffins' way courtesy of a 10-2 run in just over two minutes for a 73-62 lead with 3:56 remaining. Dan Delconte (Blue Bell, PA) scored four points in that spurt, ending it on a layup.
Gwynedd-Mercy (7-3) got the lead up to 77-65 with 2:38 to go and did not see it dip below seven thereafter for its fourth win in the last five games. The Griffins shot 58 percent (14-of-24) from the field in the second half and 72 percent (21-for-29) from the line.
Jon Crabtree ended with 19 points and 10 rebounds, including 12 and seven in the second half for the Griffins. Delconte had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Jon Hogga posted 17 and nine with Brandyn Wims netting 11 points.
Jack Brennan (Stratford, NJ) recorded 18 points and eight rebounds fellow junior Perry Wright (Severn, MD) netting 13 points for Widener (6-4), which shot 43 percent (29-of-68) from the field. Senior Jarrell Nelson (Waldorf, MD) scored 12 points with senior Chris McDevitt (Doylestown, PA) and freshman Bob Makor (Philadelphia, PA) adding 10 apiece.
It was only Widener's second loss in its last seven contests.
Widener returns to action January 2 against Misericordia at the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament in York, PA. Tip-off is at 6:00 pm. The field's other semifinal pits York (PA) versus Central Penn.
