Men's Basketball Dealt Heatbreaking 92-89 Loss by Hood

(box score)

Despite senior Rob McPherson (Bowie, MD) hitting the tying layup with 8.7 seconds remaining, Widener allowed Chris Cook to drill a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left as Hood dealt it a tough 92-89 Commonwealth Conference loss at Schwartz Center.

Widener (8-7, 2-6 CC), which had first-half leads of 14-0 and 24-8, look to possess all the momentum when sophomore David Nicholson (Odenton, MD) canned a huge 3-pointer from the left corner for an 85-84 lead with 1:38 to play.

After the Pride called time out, senior Bob Makor (Philadelphia, PA) got a big steal and fed junior Dillon Fields (Medford, NJ) for a layup and an 87-84 cushion with 1:18 to go.

Hood's Justin Bowens was fouled on a drive that disqualified junior Greg Lawson (Mount Holly, NJ) and canned two free throws with 67 seconds remaining for an 87-86 contest. Chris Cook then began entering the spotlight with a steal, a driving layup and a free throw with 50 seconds left for an 89-87 Blazers lead.

McPherson then missed a jumper, but Nicholson got the rebound and the Pride had possession with 33 seconds left. Following consecutive Widener time outs, senior Andrew Radomicki (Media, PA) had his 3-pointer from the right corner blocked out of bounds by Cameron Cook with 19 seconds left.

This set up Widener's final possession and it was McPherson who was the go-to player. He took the ball on the left wing and drove for the tying layup at 89-89.

Hood (11-4, 5-3) did not call time out and Chris Cook took matters into his own hands, nailing a 30-footer from the left wing for a 92-89 lead. Radomicki's desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer was off target.

McPherson ended with 31 points and six 3-pointers, both matching his career highs, and 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Lawson, among the nation's leaders in double-doubles, had 14 points and 10 rebounds for his 10th of the campaign.

Fields scored 12 points and Nicholson added 11 for the Pride, who shot 42 percent (24-of-57) overall and owned a 47-28 rebounding edge.

Chris Cook scored 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting, Cameron Cook netted 16, Bowens and Jay Burke poured in 13 apiece with Davon Hill adding 11 for the Blazers, who shot 54 percent (13-of-24) from the field in the second half.

Widener has a monster test ahead of it Wednesday, when it hosts 15th-ranked Messiah at 8:00 pm.

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