CHESTER, Pa. (Feb. 8, 2017) – Junior Sardayah Sambo (Middletown, Del.) became the 27th player in program history to eclipse 1,000 points in his career to help propel the Widener University men's basketball team to a 93-78 victory over Messiah on Wednesday evening at the Schwartz Center.
 
Sambo, who entered the game with 995 career points, scored five straight for the Pride to reach the milestone. He converted a layup and then completed a 3-point play the old-fashioned way to give the hosts a 13-6 advantage at the 15:42 mark as well as a lead they would never surrender the rest of the way. The margin grew to 13 when junior Sam Smith (Wyomissing, Pa.) made a trifecta to create a 31-18 score, and the guard later added a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the hosts a comfortable 46-32 advantage at the break.
 
Widener (13-9, MAC Commonwealth 7-6) stayed firmly in control throughout the second half and built its lead up to 20 when sophomore Ryan McMahon (Mount Laurel, N.J.) found Smith for another trey to make it 61-41 with 14:35 left. Messiah brought the deficit down to 10 when Rob McWilliams converted a layup, but the Falcons would not be able to close the gap to single digits. Senior Kendall Green (Mount Laurel, N.J.), McMahon and Smith all hit free throws down the stretch to ice the win for the Pride.
 
Sambo registered his sixth double-double of the season by finishing with 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead the way for Widener. He also blocked five shots, dished out three assists and recorded two steals. Smith netted a team-high 22 points and pulled down seven boards, while McMahon added 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
 
Messiah (11-10, MAC Commonwealth 6-7) was paced by Josh Clippinger in the loss. He fell just shy of a double-double by scoring 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds. McWilliams netted 19 points, and Colin Sareyka chipped in 16.
 
Widener, which ended the evening in a tie for fourth place in the conference standings, next hosts Hood on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. Seniors John Fender (Wallingford, Pa.) and Green will be recognized for their contributions to the program prior to the contest.