READING, Pa. (Dec. 7, 2016) – Senior captain John Fender (Wallingford, Pa.) scored a career-high 19 points, but the Widener University men's basketball team was dealt a 77-69 loss by Albright on Wednesday evening at the Bollman Center.
 
DeJuan Smith opened the scoring with a dunk and then converted a 3-pointer to set the tone early, as Albright led for nearly the entire first half. Widener held a pair of one-point advantages when junior Sam Smith (Wyomissing, Pa.) made two consecutive layups, but the Lions responded with 10 unanswered to seize control. Albright shot lights out from long range by nailing 10 shots from downtown in the opening half to take a 48-38 advantage into the recess.
 
In the second half, Smith got the scoring started for the Lions again by canning a jumper on the opening possession. Widener tried chipping away at the deficit and came within five when senior captain Kendall Green (Mount Laurel, N.J.) connected with junior Sardayah Sambo (Middletown, Del.) for a dunk to make it 50-45, but the visitors would not be able to come any closer the rest of the way.
 
Albright (5-2, MAC Commonwealth 3-0) was paced by Omar Ringgold, who scored 19 points and drained four shots from downtown. He also added three steals. Fred Rowles and Smith finished with 15 and 13 points, respectively, and contributed six boards apiece.
 
Fender set a career-best scoring mark of 19 points by shooting 9-of-15 from the field to lead the way for Widener in the setback. Green scored 13 points, while Sambo fell just shy of a double-double by racking up 10 points, nine boards and six blocks.
 
Widener (5-3, MAC Commonwealth 1-2) returns home to the Schwartz Center, where it has outscored its opponents by 18.2 points per game this season, on Saturday to face reigning champion Lycoming. The opening tip is slated for 3 p.m.