CHESTER, Pa. – Sam Smith scored a career-high 33 points, hitting seven shots from beyond the arc and the Widener University men's basketball team turned in one of its best defensive efforts of the season to defeat the Gallaudet Bison 81-57 in non-conference action on Tuesday night.
 
The first half was a tight battle as neither team held more than a four point lead in the first 20 minutes. Widener started the game well, hitting its first four shots, but Gallaudet matched them at each turn. With the Bison leading by three late in the half, two straight baskets for the Pride sent the home team into the locker room ahead by a point.
 
Opening the second half, Widener went on a 14-0 run to take a 55-42 lead. Gallaudet sliced the advantage to single digits with seven minutes to go, but the Pride scored 18 of the final 21 points of the game to seal the win.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Smith netted his career-best total on 12-for-20 shooting, hitting 7-for-10 from beyond the arc. He also grabbed six rebounds and dished four assists.
• Connor Laverty netted 11, his first game in double figures since Dec. 16.
• Jair Williams pulled in a career-best six rebounds and tied his high with six points.
• As a team, Widener shot 50.0 percent from the floor.
• The 57 points allowed and 28.3 percent field goal defense were season-bests for the Blue and Gold.
• The Pride bench outscored the Bison reserves 30-3.

 
FIRST HALF NOTES

• Widener opened the half strong, knocking down its first four shots of the game, but the Bison matched them as neither team led by more than four points.
• The Bison took their largest lead of the half at 37-34 as Noah Valencia hit five straight at the line on back-to-back possessions with 1:17 to go.
• The Blue and Gold responded as Williams scored on a back door feed from Ryan McMahon and then netted the final points of the opening 20 minutes, as Laverty collected an offense rebound and fed it to Williams who delivered a floater in the lane at the buzzer.
• Smith had a big half, scoring 17 points, connecting on 6-of-11 shots from the floor including 3-for-4 from long distance.
• As a team, the Pride hit 53.6 percent from the field, but was hampered by 10 turnovers.

 
SECOND HALF NOTES

• After Gallaudet tallied the first bucket of the second half on a three-pointer by Valencia, Widener took control of the game, scoring 14 points in a row. Defense was the key as the Pride held the Bison to 0-for-10 shooting in the seven-minute span.
• Trailing 59-44 midway through the half, GU battled back, chopping the lead to single digits at the at the 6:31 mark.
• Widener sealed the contest, scoring 18 of the final 21 points.
• Nine different players scored for the Pride in the final 20 minutes led by Smith with 16.

 
UP NEXT
Widener remains at home and returns to MAC Commonwealth play, hosting No. 9 Lycoming on Saturday, Jan. 27. Tipoff from the Schwartz Center is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.