MIAMI – Ryan McMahon scored a career-high 21 points and the Widener University men's basketball team survived a furious second half comeback as the Pride downed the Moravian Greyhounds 78-73 in the opening game of the HoopMia D3 Holiday Shootout on Monday afternoon.
 
Widener jumped out to an early 14-6 lead just more than into the contest as the Pride came up with five steals by the 13:43 mark. The Blue and Gold continued to extend the lead as the first half went on, going up by as many as 13, including the final bucket of the frame, to take a 43-30 lead into halftime.
 
The Pride opened the second half much in the same way as the first, hitting its first four shots to go on a quick 10-5 run in the first three minutes. Widener continued to pull away, pushing out to a 64-41 lead with just less than 14 minutes remaining. Moravian would not go quietly, however, as with the Pride up 71-52 with 8:45 to go, the Greyhounds needed just four-plus minutes to go on a 19-0 run and tie the game at 71-71 at the 4:21 mark. The Blue and Gold recovered and scored seven of the final nine points in the game to secure the win.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• McMahon had arguably his best day in a Widener uniform, scoring a career-high 21 points, pulling down eight rebounds, and dishing four assists.
• Tyler Drews topped three more players in double figures, netting 18. Sam Smith had 13 and Sardayah Sambo tallied 10.
• Nick Jackson had eight rebounds in the game, helping the Pride to a 36-29 edge on the glass.
• The Blue and Gold shot a season-high 56.4 percent (31-of-55) from the floor.

 
FIRST HALF NOTES

• Widener opened the half well, scoring off the opening tap and not looking back, taking an 8-2 lead just 1:46 into the contest, capped by an old-fashioned three-point play from Connor Laverty.
• The Greyhounds kept it at a six point game through the midway mark of the half, before a 12-5 run by the Pride extended the edge to its largest of the stanza at 37-24 on a pair of free throws by Drews with 3:24 remaining.
• Drews led Widener with 14 points in the opening 20 minutes.
• Widener shot a blistering 58.6 percent (17-for-28) in the frame and came up with seven steals.

 
SECOND HALF NOTES

• Widener once again got the early jump, scoring 17 of the first 28 points, 10 of them by Smith, to take a 60-41 lead. Before extending to its largest lead of the afternoon at 64-41 on a McMahon trey at the 13:56 mark.
• Down 71-52, the Greyhounds stormed back, going on a 19-0 run in a matter of 4:24 to knot the contest at 71-71 with 4:21 remaining.
• McMahon scored 13 of his 21 points in the final 20 minutes.

 
UP NEXT
Widener concludes its Florida trip with a matchup against Mount Saint Mary on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.