WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ryan McMahon hit a three-pointer at the buzzer as the Widener University men's basketball team won its fourth straight game, claiming an 81-78 victory against the Catholic University of America Cardinals on Wednesday night.
 
After a slow start, Widener found its stroke, going on a 11-0 run midway through the half to take a 19-14 lead. After Catholic battled back, the Pride used a quick 8-1 spurt to hold a 42-38 lead at halftime.
 
Neither team led by more than four points in the final 17 minutes of the contest as the two teams battled down the stretch. Trailing 77-74, a free throw and a three-pointer put the Pride up by one before Catholic went 1-of-2 at the line with 28 seconds left to tie the score. Up against the clock, McMahon took a feed from Sardayah Sambo and knocked down his game-winner as time expired.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Tyler Drews led four players in double figures with 18 points. Sam Smith and Nick Jackson scored 15 each. Sambo netted 11.
• McMahon finished the game with nine points and seven assists.
• Jared Peters tied his career-high with eight points.
• For the second time this season, the Pride committed just six turnovers in a game and only had three miscues in the final 26 minutes.

 
FIRST HALF NOTES

• Widener got off to a slow start, connecting on just four of its first 13 shots as Catholic built a 14-8 lead a little less than six minutes into the game.
• The Pride found its rhythm as a pair of back-to-back three-pointers by Smith ignited an 11-0 run to push the visitors in front 19-14 midway through the half.
• Neither squad held more than a three point lead in the next seven minutes. With the score tied 32-32at the 3:05 mark, the Blue and Gold scored eight of the next nine points before a late run by the Cardinals made it 42-38 at halftime.
• Jackson led the way with 11 points while Smith had 10 and Drews tallied nine.
• For the third consecutive game, Widener shot 50 percent or better in the opening 20 minutes, hitting 17-of-34 shots from the field.

 
SECOND HALF NOTES

• The second frame was tightly contested throughout. After Drews hit a jumper with 17:08 remaining to put Widener up 48-42, neither team held more than a four point lead the rest of the game.
• The Pride trailed 77-74 with 1:04 remaining when a Sambo free throw and a trey by Smith 21 seconds later put Widener up 78-77. A free throw by Jay Howard tied the score with 28 seconds left, setting up McMahon's heroics.
• Drews scored nine points in the frame with Sambo and McMahon each netting seven.
• Widener committed just two turnovers in the final 20 minutes.

 
UP NEXT
The Pride returns to MAC Commonwealth play on Saturday, Jan. 6, hosting Messiah. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.