READING, Pa. – The Widener University men's basketball team made 31 free throws as the Pride outlasted the Alvernia Golden Wolves 79-73 on Saturday afternoon.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Connor Laverty led the Pride with 14 points and tied for the team best with nine rebounds.
• Jared Peters hit 6-of-7 at the line, scoring 13 points, also pulling in nine boards.
• Elijah Boyd added 12 points with Steven Matlack scoring 11 and Kolbey Woodard netting 10.
• Kenny Lewis turned in a solid day with nine points and eight boards.
• All eight Widener players who appeared in the game posted at least one made free throw.
• The 31 free throws made are the most for the Blue and Gold since connecting 37 times at the line on December 30, 2013 against Swarthmore.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pride maintained control of a tight game during the first half, scoring six of the first eight points only trailing twice in the frame by a single point each time. Widener extended the lead to as many as nine at 24-15 when Boyd connected on a three-pointer at the 10:03 mark. Alvernia battled back and took a 29-28 edge with 2:16 to go, but a pair of free throws from A.J. Sawyers put the Blue and Gold back on top as WU held a 32-31 lead at the break.
 
AU came out of the locker room strong, hitting four of its first seven shots, using an 8-2 run in taking a 39-34 lead. Trailing 50-47, WU went on an 18-0 run in the next six minutes, opening a 65-50 lead with 5:58 remaining. Alvernia hacked the lead to 76-72 at the 0:52 mark, but the Pride iced the game at the line.
 
UP NEXT
Widener wraps the 2019 portion of its home schedule on Saturday, December 14 when it hosts Lycoming in MAC Commonwealth action. Tipoff from the Schwartz Center is slated for 3:00 p.m.