Box Score
ANNVILLE, Pa. - BJ Smith's desperation three-pointer beat the buzzer as Widener stunned Lebanon Valley, 66-65, in a key Commonwealth Conference match-up Saturday.
The Dutchmen (6-8, 2-3 CC) fell below .500 in conference play after a 2-0 start in what was their third close loss in a week. The Pride (9-6, 2-3 CC) picked up a big win to avoid falling into a 1-4 hole in league play.
LVC had a chance to ice the game when
Danny Brooks went to the line with 3.7 seconds left, but he missed both foul shots, and Widener's Jarrell Nelson found Smith on a long outlet as the Pride guard swished the buzzer-beater from five feet outside the arc.
It spoiled a career night for
Joe Meehan, who had career-highs with 26 points and nine rebounds, and
Dan Dunkelberger, who had 12 rebounds and three blocks. On the other side, Jack Brennan ended up with 17 points and 14 rebounds, while Smith finished with 14 and Nelson 16.
The see-saw game had 11 ties and 15 lead-changes, including four in the final three minutes. After Brennan's tip-in with 1:47 left put Widener up one, Aaquil Atkins sent
Sean MacIntosh to the line, and his two made shots gave LVC the lead back. Lebanon Valley had a chance to go ahead but Meehan's layup missed, and Atkins fouled out as he sent Meehan back to the line.
Meehan made just one of two to give LVC a two-point lead, and after a defensive stop forced Chris McDevitt's three-pointer off the mark, Brooks was intentionally fouled by Smith. With a chance to put the game out of reach, Brooks clanked both tries off the back iron, and with no timeouts remaining, Widener worked quickly to outlet. Nelson grabbed the board, took a dribble and outletted long to Smith, who took an off-balance shot from in front of the Widener bench that found nothing but net.
LVC will try to regroup Wednesday against Messiah.