READING, Pa. – In a battle for the top spot in the standings, the Widener University men's basketball team took down in-state rival Albright in a shootout by a score of a 98-84. Despite a tight battle through most of the game, outstanding shooting from the Pride ultimately gave it the edge in this matchup. The Blue and Gold remains the only undefeated team in MAC Commonwealth play this season as it advances to a conference record of 6-0.
 
GAMES NOTES

• Connor Laverty led six players in double digit scoring with 21 points, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
• Steven Matlack came off the bench to provide 17 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
• Also posting double digits were Jared Peters (14), AJ Sawyers (13), Elijah Boyd (12), and Pat Holden (11).
• The Pride shot a season best 63.6 percent from three-point range, connecting on 7-of-11 baskets from deep.
• For the fifth game in a row, eight different players found the scoring column for the Blue and Gold.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pride came out shooting hot, connecting on eight of its first 10 field goals. Albright was able to match the intensity and kept the score tight through much of the opening 10 minutes. However, midway through the half, Widener opened up a 24-9 scoring run that put it up by 17 at the 2:27 mark. After a 9-0 spurt by the Lions in the half's final minutes, the Blue and Gold ended a high-scoring first act with a 49-40 lead.
 
Albright continued to cut into the deficit as the second stanza began and took a two-point lead with 11:37 to play. Despite the Lions' efforts, it was the Pride's stellar 60.7 percent shooting from the field that allowed it to retake control late in the game and pull away to claim the victory along with its spot atop the conference standings.
 
UP NEXT
The Pride returns home as it look to extend its three-game win streak against Hood on Saturday. Tip-off from the Schwartz Center is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.