CHESTER, Pa. (Jan. 11, 2017) – Senior John Fender (Wallingford, Pa.) scored a career-high 21 points in leading the Widener University men's basketball team to a 73-64 victory over Alvernia on Wednesday evening at the Schwartz Center.
 
Fender broke a 36-36 halftime deadlock by driving in for a layup during Widener's opening drive of the second frame, but Alvernia answered back and regained the lead at 49-42 when Alex Shippen finished an old-fashioned 3-point play at the 17:08 mark. Widener, however, stayed within striking distance and went ahead for good when junior Sam Smith (Wyomissing, Pa.) finished a pass from freshman Connor Laverty (Upper Township, N.J.) to put the Pride ahead by a 58-57 score with eight minutes remaining. Fender then contributed a 3-point play to give the hosts their largest lead of the game at 68-59 and provide the insurance the team needed to record its second conference win of the season.
 
The first half was tightly contested with neither side leading by more than five points. But even though Alvernia led for nearly the entire frame, Widener stayed close and most notably got a combined six free throws from senior Kendall Green (Mount Laurel, N.J.) and junior Sardayah Sambo (Middletown, Del.) to help the Pride end the half on a 9-4 run and send the teams into the locker rooms tied at 36-all.
 
Fender scored a career-high 21 points for Widener by shooting 8-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-4 from long range, and 3-of-3 from the line. Sambo provided a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards, while Smith added 19 points. In addition, all eight players who saw time on the floor contributed at least one assist and combined for 17 helpers on 24 field goals.
 
Alvernia (9-6, MAC Commonwealth 3-3) was paced Marquis Marshall in the losing effort. He finished the game with 22 points, seven boards and two blocked shots. George Williams and Shippen netted 13 and 12 points, respectively.
 
Widener (7-7, MAC Commonwealth 2-4) will travel to face Hood for another Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth matchup on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m.