Game Details: Saturday, November 9 | 7:00 p.m.
Location: Penn State Harrisburg Gym | Harrisburg, Pa.
Game Links:  Watch Live | Live Stats 
Twitter: @WidenerSports | @WidenerMBB |   |  Mt Aloysius Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats 

Opening Tip
Widener opens its 2019-20 campaign at the Penn State Harrisburg Tip-Off Tournament presented by Comfort Inn & Suites Harrisburg Airport - Hershey South. The Pride squares off against Mt. Aloysius in game one on Saturday, November 9 at 7:00 p.m. then faces the winner of the Penn State Harrisburg/Marywood matchup on Sunday at either 4:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m.

Scouting Report
Hailing from the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, Mt. Alyosius' 2018-19 season had a smiliar ending to Widener's. The Mounties fell to La Roche College in the conference championship after compiling a regular season record of 14-13. They are returning three starters in 2019-20, including the team's second leading scorer, Carlos Palacio. The 6'6 sophomore averaged 14.4 points per game last year, dropping a season-high 26 against Hilbert. 

The Mounties' third leading scorer and main facilitator, Julian Stover, is also back. He put up 13.8 and 2.7 through 27 games. Head Coach Will Cabrera enters his third season at the helm in 2019. He led the program to its first ever home playoff win last year. 

The host school, Penn State Harrisburg, begins 2019-20 in a new conference, leaving the Capital Athletic Conference for the North Eastern Athletic Conference. The Nittany Lions lost to Mary Washington in the first round of the CAC Tournament in 2019. The team's leading scorer from last season, Donyae Baylor-Carroll, is back and looking to improve on his 14.3 ppg as a freshman. He and Zegary Scott II make up the backcourt, both averaging over two assists per contest a year ago. 

The Nittany Lions attempted 18.4 three-pointers per game last year, sinking 34.1 percent of their shots. Head Coach Don Friday enters his sixth season with Harrisburg. During his five-year tenure, Friday has expanded the program's recruiting reach and amplified its success in both the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) and North Eastern Athletic Conference

The team with the best 2018-19 record in the tournament is Marywood. The Pacers finished 17-11, reaching the Atlantic East semifinals before dropping to Marymount 64-71. The squad lost its three leading scorers from last year but are bringing back guard Jack Degroot. He scored 8.6 points per game on 46 percent shooting. 

Donovan Catchings started every game for the Pacers as a sophomore. He was not much of a scorer, but led the team in assists with 3.2 per game. He had nine dimes in a 94-87 win against Cabrini on January 30. 

Enrico Mastroianni begins his fifth season at the helm of the Pacers Men's Basketball program after leading the Pacers to their finest season in program history in 2018-19.  In addition to qualifying for the Atlantic East Conference tournament in '18-'19, earning a bye and hosting a semifinal, the Pacers set a program record for wins in a season (17) and qualified for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament where they earned the men's basketball program's first-ever post-season victory in the opening round.

Run It Back
Widener made it to the Middle Atlantic Conference Championship in 2018-19, led primarily by seniors Tyler Drews and Ryan McMahon. The two have since moved on but the Pride is returning three of its four top-scorers in Connor Laverty, Elijah Boyd, and Jared Peters. Peters and Laverty both shot above 36 percent from three and Boyd was second on the team in assists. Look for him to improve on his passing this year as WU looks to replace McMahon's facilitating abilities. 

New Faces
There are eight new members on the Widener men's basketball team in 2019-20. Six of whom are freshman, one who is a sophomore and one senior. Deshawn Jones, Steven Matlack, and Drew Hickson look to bolster a front court that lost 7.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in Jalen Howard. Bo Furey-Bastian, Will Long, Nkem Ota, Anthony Alston Jr., and James Gillespie aim to provide shooting and front court defense in conference full of excellent guard play. 

200 Watch!
With a record of 194-149 at Widener, Head Coach Chris Carideo looks to eclipse to 200-mark in wins this season.