OWINGS MILLS, Md. – After splitting the season series against Stevenson last year, the Widener men's basketball team overcame a 21-point deficit against the Mustangs to grab the 79-76 win in this season's first matchup. The win propels the Blue and Gold to a 5-0 MAC Commonwealth record and its best start in over a decade at 12-2 overall.
 
GAME NOTES

• Jared Peters led four players in double digit scoring with a career-high 23 points while adding a team best five rebounds and five steals.
• AJ Sawyers and Kenny Lewis both chipped in with 15 points a piece.
• Steven Matlack came off the bench to provide 10 points, four assists and two steals, including one to seal the game on the final possession.
• The Pride gave up the ball just 11 times, while forcing 23 turnovers.
• For the fourth game in a row, eight players found the scoring column for the Blue and Gold.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Mustangs came out hot, going ahead by as many as 21 at the 11:46 mark in the first. However, the Pride, led by double digit first-half points from Peters and Lewis, clawed its way back with a 30-10 run in the next 11 minutes to enter halftime with a one-point lead and the score locked at 41-40.
 
The contest remained tight through much of the second stanza. With seven minutes to play and the score tied up at 62, Widener scored 10 unanswered points to capture its first double digit lead of the afternoon. The Mustangs responded with one more late push and cut the lead to three with just eleven seconds remaining. On the final possession by Stevenson, Matlack came up with a huge steal to help the Blue and Gold hang on to the 79-76 win.
 
UP NEXT
The Pride stays on the road to face in-state conference rival Albright on Wednesday night. Tip-off from the George C. Bollman Center is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.