CHESTER, Pa. (Jan. 21, 2017) – Junior Sam Smith (Wyomissing, Pa.) scored a career-high 32 points and nailed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of regulation to help propel the Widener University men's basketball team to a thrilling 89-78 overtime victory over Albright on Saturday afternoon at the Schwartz Center.
 
Widener (9-8, MAC Commonwealth 4-5), which found itself in a 71-67 hole with 12.7 seconds remaining in regulation, would get a pair of clutch 3-point baskets with under four seconds remaining to stay alive. Senior captain Kendall Green (Mount Laurel, N.J.), who put the Pride ahead by a point with 44.1 seconds on the clock, found sophomore Ryan McMahon (Mount Laurel, N.J.) at the top of the key for an open shot to make it 71-70 with 3.2 seconds left before immediately fouling on the ensuing inbounds pass. Omari Ringgold then hit two free throws to give the Lions a 73-70 lead and set up the thrilling finish.
 
With the hosts facing a 3-point deficit and having to set up 94 feet away from the basket, McMahon sent a long pass down the court to Smith for a desperation shot. The junior's running attempt from the left arc banked home at the buzzer, which electrified the crowd and sent the Pride bench into a frenzy.
 
Widener used the tidal wave of momentum and dominated the overtime with Smith continuing to have the hot hand. After Jayson Clark converted a layup to give the visitors a slim 75-74 advantage, Smith struck gold by canning back-to-back 3-pointers to ignite a 10-0 run which was capped by an uncontested monster dunk by junior Sardayah Sambo (Middletown, Del.) in transition. Smith and McMahon then made free throws down the stretch to ice the comeback victory.
 
Smith, who played the entire contest, scored a career-high 32 points by shooting 10-of-19 from the floor, including 6-of-9 from long range, and a perfect 6-of-6 at the stripe to lead the way for Widener. McMahon finished with 13 points and nine rebounds to go along with four assists, while Sambo contributed 13 points and four blocks.
 
Albright (7-11, MAC Commonwealth 5-4) was paced by Ringgold's 22-point effort in the setback. Fred Rowles and DeJuan Smith netted 13 points apiece, and Smith also finished with eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.
 
Widener, which is only one game out of second place in the clogged Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth standings, visits Valley Forge for its final non-conference matchup of the regular season on Monday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m.