ANNVILLE, Pa. (Nov. 30, 2016) – The Widener University men's basketball team fell to Lebanon Valley by a 78-55 score in the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth opener for both schools on Wednesday evening at Sorrentino Gymnasium.
 
The beginning of the game was tightly contested with the teams exchanging the lead seven times. But after junior Sam Smith (Wyomissing, Pa.) converted a layup to give the Pride a 9-8 edge at the 13:02 mark, Lebanon Valley got a 3-pointer from Marquis Davis and went on a 14-2 run over the next five minutes to prompt a Widener timeout. The Pride were unable to make a field goal for a span of 5:42 until freshman Elijah Boyd drove in for an assisted layup and trailed 32-20 at the recess.
 
After getting a buzzer-beating trey from Ricky Bugg to close out the first half, the Dutchmen came out firing out of the break and built up a 19-point advantage by rattling off seven more unanswered. Sophomore Nick Jackson (Rockville, Md.) put back a missed jumper for the Pride's first field goal of the frame at 15:36, but the hosts shook it off and extended their lead to as many as 30 on a Brett Gilbert trifecta and eventually ran away with a lopsided victory.
 
Lebanon Valley (3-3, MAC Commonwealth 1-0) was paced by Andy Orr and Davis in the triumph. Orr fell just shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, while Davis poured in 21 points to lead all scorers.
 
The Pride got a strong effort from Boyd in the setback. The freshman finished with nine points. Senior Kendall Green (Mount Laurel, N.J.) finished with seven points and four boards.
 
Widener (4-2, MAC Commonwealth 0-1) returns to the Schwartz Center to entertain Stevenson on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m.