Saturday, Mar. 3 | 6:00 p.m.
The Widener University men's basketball team continues its postseason run, traveling to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. to face the host Wilkes Colonels in the ECAC Division III Championship semifinals on Saturday, Mar. 3. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
Last Time Out
The Widener University men's basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the ECAC Division III Championship on Friday night.
Due to an unfortunate circumstance with the weather and road conditions, Widener's opponent, Baruch, was significantly delayed. After it was determined that the team would not be able to arrive at the Marts Center in any reasonable timeframe, the Bearcats were forced to forfeit the contest.
So How Does This Work?
Officially, the game is deemed a no contest by the NCAA. Neither team is granted a win or a loss for the event. Widener enters play against Wilkes at 16-10 while Baruch has its season end at 16-11.
Scouting Report
Wilkes enters the contest 19-8 overall following a 77-62 win against Penn State Behrend in the ECAC Division III Championship quarterfinals. The Colonels had five players score in double figures in the QF contest including a career-high 14 from Jack Bova.
Five players score nine or more points a contest for Wilkes led by Rob Pecorelli at 14.8 a game. Marcus Robinson and Mark Mullins follow, tallying 13.8 and 12.7 an outing respectively. Connor Evans is scoring 9.8 a night with Zach Brunner scoring 9.1. Mullins tops the team at 7.0 rebounds per game while Pecorelli dishes 2.7 assists per contest.
Wilkes has done an outstanding job on the boards this season, pulling down 40.0 rebounds per contest and has a +6.6 margin on the glass. The Colonels also do a good job getting to the line, taking on average 23.3 shots at the line per game and hits 70.1 percent at the stripe.
Izzy Metz is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Colonels with a record of 57-47 in Wilkes-Barre. He also coached his alma mater in Hobart for five seasons and has a career record of 126-109 as a collegiate head coach.
Second Chance For A First Impression
For the second consecutive game, Widener was scheduled to play a team it has never faced in men's basketball. Hoops would not have been the first team for the Blue and Gold to face Baruch in 2017-18 as men's volleyball played its second match of the season against the Bearcats. Prior to Wednesday, the Pride had never faced Wilson in any sport.
Sweet 16
For the second season in a row, the Pride has won 16 games. A win against Wilkes would secure the highest victory total for Widener since the 2011-12 season when it was on the plus side of the ledger 18 times.
Nifty 250
With his five blocks against Wilson,
Sardayah Sambo became just the seventh active NCAA player among all divisions to record 250 career rejections. The senior has been on a tear as of late in turning away opposition shots, swatting 36 in his last eight contests. He has blocked three shots in 14 games this season and has accomplished the feat 46 times in his career.
Cream Of The Crop
Widener had two players among the 13 named to MAC Commonwealth All-Conference teams last week.
Tyler Drews was selected as a Second Team member while
Sardayah Sambo was chosen as a Honorable Mention. It is the first All-Conference accolade for Drews and the third for Sambo who was a First Team honoree last year and a Second Team member in 2015-16.
Still Dancing
Widener is one the only MAC Commonwealth teams to still be playing its 2017-18 season. Lebanon Valley and Albright were selected to the NCAA Tournament. The Lions were dealt an 88-86 heartbreaker by Springfield on Friday while LVC fell to No. 18 Middlebury 83-63. Arcadia was also a part of the ECAC Championship, but was eliminated 73-68 by Juniata on Wednesday.
Up Next
The winner of the game between the Pride and the Colonels advances to the ECAC Division III Championship against the winner between Medaille and Neumann on Sunday, Mar. 4 at 1:00 p.m.
