Second-Half Scoring Binge Lifts Men's Basketball to 94-83 Win Over Arcadia

(box score)

Widener shot 63 percent from the floor in the second half and used a big run to pull away en route to a 94-83 Commonwealth Conference triumph over Arcadia at Schwartz Center.

No team led by more than six points in the opening half and it was the Pride who owned a 67-62 cushion with 10:18 left. That was when the tide really turned for Widener, which scored eight straight points, thanks largely to 3-pointers from junior Dillon Fields (Medford, NJ) and sophomore David Nicholson (Odenton, MD), for a 75-62 margin with 6:56 to play.

Even with the Knights shooting 58 percent (15-of-26) from the field after intermission, they were held without a basket for almost four minutes during that stretch by the Pride. They shot 53 percent (31-of-59) overall and 7-of-14 from 3-point range.

But Widener hitting 17-of-27 from the field in the second half, including 7-of-12 from 3-point range, was the difference. The Pride (8-4, 2-3 CC), who have won three of their last five outings, hit 53 percent (33-of-62) overall and 9-of-16 from beyond the arc.

Senior Rob McPherson (Bowie, MD) scored 22 points on 6-of-16 shooting and was 5-of-6 from 3-point range, marking the sixth time this season he has eclipsed 20 points.

Junior Greg Lawson (Mount Holly, NJ) again was a force with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting and 11 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season. He entered the week second in the country in double-doubles and sixth with 13.1 rebounds per contest.

Also among the Pride's six in double figures, sophomore Laron Byrd (Philadelphia, PA) scored 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting, senior Andrew Radomicki (Media, PA) netted 11 with Fields and Nicholson getting 10 apiece.

"Tonight's game was a good win for us," Widener coach Chris Carideo said. "We needed to protect our home court after coming off a road loss on Saturday at Stevenson. We played much better on defense in stretches, something we have been working on the past few days. We still have a lot of need for improvement on the defensive side of the ball, but overall I was pleased with our effort on that end. We have to continue to improve with Lycoming coming in on Saturday. They are a good scoring team."

Widener entered the contest first in the country with 262 made free throws, fourth with 93.5 points per game and eighth with a 10.7 rebounding margin.

Travis Saltus had 19 points and seven rebounds, Joe Brown scored 16 points, Jose Figueroa netted 14, and Rashon Brock added 10 for the Knights (6-6, 1-4).

Widener is back home Saturday against Lycoming, starting at 3:00 pm.

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