Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Widener University men’s basketball team defeated Rowan University, 66-63 in the championship of the Heritage’s Dairy Stores Classic on Saturday afternoon.
Earlier in the consolation game, Berkeley College topped Penn State Brandywine, 88-87 in double overtime. In the first round on Friday, December 9, Widener beat Berkeley, 95-82 and Rowan had an 89-64 victory over Penn State Brandywine.
The Pride (7-2) were led by center Jack Brennan (sr. Stratford, NJ/Sterling) with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Forward Perry Wright (sr. Severn, MD/Cardinal Gibbons) registered 16 points, nine boards and three steals. Forward Rob McPherson (jr. Bowie, MD/Caldwell College) and guard Lamar Jackson (jr. Philadelphia, PA/Shippensburg University) chipped in with seven points apiece. Forward Bob Makor (so. Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic) and McPherson both grabbed seven rebounds.
For the Profs (4-5), center Dee Benson (so. Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) posted 21 points and six rebounds. Guards Rich McNamara (so. Southampton, NJ/Seneca), Kendall White (jr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) and Phil Jackson (so. Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) all tallied nine points. McNamara added 12 rebounds and White had seven. Guard Jason Rosenberg (so. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) dished six assists.
Rowan was ahead, 26-22 at the intermission. Baskets by Brennan (19:26) and Wright (19:02) tied the game at 26. Benson’s jumper at 15:57 made the score, 36-36. McNamara sunk one of two foul shots at 14:55 to give the Profs at one point lead (37-36). The Pride went on a 9-0 run to go up, 45-37 at 11:45. Wright scored six of the nine points. Rowan cut the deficit to two (45-43) with a 6-0 surge. White’s two free throws at 10:28 capped the run.
White had a three-point play at 4:01 and the Profs trailed by one (56-55). McPherson’s layup at 2:19 extended the lead to three (60-57). McNamara had a layup (2:08) and a foul shot (:43) to tied the game at 60. McPherson recorded a tip-in at the 35 second mark. Smith nailed one of two free throws with 12 seconds left to put Widener ahead by three (63-60). Wright converted one foul shot (:06) and Smith had two (:02). Rowan guard Fred Battee (jr. Westville, NJ/Deptford) hit a three-pointer at the buzzer. Wright collected 12 points in the second half, while Benson had 11 for the Profs.
In the first period, Widener jumped out to a 7-2 lead in 2:49. Brennan scored four of the seven points. Jackson’s layup at 13:32 extended the advantage to seven (13-6). The Profs had a 7-2 surge to cut the deficit to two (15-13) with 10:36 on the clock. Guard Andrew Radomicki (so. Media, PA/Penncrest) sunk one of two free throws at 6:48 and Widener was up, 18-15. Rowan closed out the period with an 11-4 run. Jackson tallied seven of the 11 points. Brennan’s layup as time expired brought the Pride within four (26-22). He led all first half scorers with 12 points and seven boards. Benson recorded 10 points for the Profs.
The All-Tournament Team included: Andrew Webber from Berkeley, Benson, McNamara, Jackson and Wright. Brennan was selected the Most Valuable Player.
Rowan travels to Gwynedd-Mercy College for a nonconference game on Tuesday, December 13 at 7 p.m.
