SCRANTON, Pa. – Led by a career-high 22 points from junior guard Jay-Nelly Reyes, Widener men's basketball earned its second consecutive victory with a 71-63 win over Marywood on Saturday afternoon at the John Long Center.
The 71-63 win pushes the Pride to 2-0 after opening weekend for the first time since the 2023-24 season.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Reyes led all scorers with 22 points, shooting 8-of-15 from the floor and knocking down three 3-pointers.
- Senior forward Ahmeil McLaurin recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, including four offensive boards.
- Junior guard Dylan Schlatter added 12 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals.
- Senior guard Kori Segich finished with 10 points, seven assists and three steals.
- Widener recorded 19 assists on 25 made field goals and forced 13 Marywood turnovers.
- The Pride held a 38-29 advantage on the glass and scored 16 second-chance points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Marywood opened the game with an early 4-0 lead, but Reyes answered with a 3-pointer to get the Pride on the board. Widener continued to trade baskets with the Pacers before Bryson gave the Pride a 16-14 advantage with a jumper at the 11:38 mark.
- After Marywood took a five-point lead midway through the first half, Widener worked its way back. McLaurin and Schlatter helped spark the offense, while Segich and Reyes converted key baskets late in the period. Reyes knocked down a 3-pointer with 1:55 remaining to give Widener a 34-30 lead, and the Pride carried a 39-33 advantage into halftime.
- Widener opened the second half with a McLaurin layup before Bryson connected from beyond the arc to push the lead to nine. The Pride continued to answer Marywood's scoring runs, with McLaurin adding a layup and a putback to keep Widener in front.
- Marywood battled back to tie the game at 50 with 11:45 remaining, but Musonge responded with a jumper to put the Pride back on top. Dodson and Reyes added baskets as Widener regained control, while McLaurin and Schlatter helped extend the lead to seven.
- Schlatter knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers late in the second half, including one at the 5:10 mark that pushed the Pride's advantage to 65-56. Segich added a jumper with 2:29 remaining, and Widener made its free throws down the stretch to secure the 71-63 victory.
UP NEXT
Widener returns to Chester, Pa. on Friday, November 13 for their annual Tip-Off for Autism Awareness Tournament. Widener is set to play the 1-0 (0-0 Centennial) Haverford Fords in 8 p.m. The Pride wrap up the weekend on Saturday, November 14 against an opponent to be determined after the RPI vs Rutgers-Newark game.
