Men's Basketball Tops Rowan, 66-63, for Second Tournament Title

(box score)

Widener scored six straight points late and corralled four huge offensive rebounds late in the contest to top Rowan, 66-63, and win the Heritage's Dairy Farm Classic in Glassboro, NJ.

Widener (7-2) took the lead for good, 62-60, with 35 seconds left. Lamar Jackson (Philadelphia, PA) missed a driving layup, but fellow junior Rob McPherson (Bowie, MD) was there for the tip-in.

Rowan (4-5) came back down with Kendall White missing a layup and Dee Benson grabbing an offensive rebound. But sophomore Bob Makor (Philadelphia, PA) made a huge play by tying up Benson and Widener got the ball courtesy of the possession arrow.

After being fouled, McPherson missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 17 seconds remaining. Benson was fouled after grabbing the rebound, but he misfired on two key free throws and Makor hauled in the rebound.

Senior Brian Smith (Baltimore, MD) was fouled with 12 seconds remaining and made the first free throw for a 63-60 contest. He missed the second, but Makor was there for the offensive rebound.

Makor could not convert his first in a 1-and-1 with nine seconds left, but McPherson was on the spot for another offensive rebound. Senior Perry Wright (Severn, MD) made a free throw for a 64-60 game with six seconds to play, but his second missed and Smith was all over the Pride's 27th offensive rebound of the game.

Smith made two free throws with two seconds left for a 66-60 contest, preserving Widener's third straight victory.

Senior Jack Brennan (Stratford, NJ) closed with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting and 12 rebounds with Wright adding 16 points and nine rebounds. Brennan was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after ending the weekend with 45 points on 14-of-23 shooting and 23 rebounds over two games.

Jackson and Wright also were picked to the all-tournament team.

Benson poured in 21 points for the Profs, who shot 37 percent (23-of-63) from the floor and 15-for-26 from the line.

The Pride earlier this season captured the Widener Tip-Off Tournament with victories over Penn State Mont Alto and SUNY Cortland.

Widener next Sunday plays Occidental, beginning at 10:00 pm Eastern Time in Los Angeles, CA.

Print Friendly Version