Box Score
CHESTER, PA – The Widener University men’s basketball team defeated Rowan University, 65-60 in the championship game of the Oki Data Americas Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday.
Widener improves to 3-0, while Rowan has a 2-1 record. Earlier on Saturday, Regis College (MA) beat St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn), 83-50 in the consolation game.
The Pride was led by center Jack Brennan (so. Stratford, NJ/Sterling) with 15 points and six rebounds. He was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Forward Perry Wright (so. Severn, MD/Cardinal Gibbons) contributed with 13 points off the bench. Wright collected All-Tournament Team honors. Guard Chris McDevitt (jr. Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks W.) scored 12 points, while guard Bobby Edmunds (sr. Linwood, NJ/Mainland Reg.) dished seven assists. Forward Jarrell Nelson (jr. Waldorf, MD/Thomas Stone) added seven rebounds.
For the Profs, forward Tyson Hartnett (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) totaled 15 points and seven rebounds. He was selected to the All-Tournament Team. Forward Steve Secula (so. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.) and guard Sean Hughes (jr. Pt. Pleasant, NJ/Pt. Pleasant Boro) chipped in with 11 points apiece. Secula also had six boards. Center Derek Piccini (sr. Ridgefield, NJ/Ridgefield Mem.) posted eight points.
Widener led 9-7 at 14:13 in the first period. Forward Derrick Williams (fr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) nailed a three-pointer at 12:26. Piccini had a foul shot (11:55) then Nelson hit a jumper (11:22) to put the Pride up 14-8. Rowan came within two points (20-18) after a jumper by guard A.J. Greenwald (fr. West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) at 7:08. Widener went on a 12-3 run over the next 3:52 seconds to go ahead, 32-21. Wright had five points in the surge. The Profs fought back with two free throws by Hartnett (2:57), a jumper by Piccini (1:57) and a layup by Hartnett (1:18) to make the score, 32-27. The Pride was up 37-28 at the intermission.
In the second half, Hartnett’s two free throws at 16:08, brought Rowan within five points (41-36). Widener built a 10 point advantage (51-41) over the next 5:57. Guard Gary Foster (so. Neptune, NJ/Neptune) had a layup at 9:19 to cut the lead to six (51-45). Secula’s layup at 6:48 to made the score, 53-49. The team’s went back and forth until Edmunds’ free throw at 00:34 put the Pride ahead, 62-57. Hughes answered with a three-pointer (00:20), but Wright nailed two foul shots with 18 seconds left and McDevitt had a free throw with five seconds remaining.