Box Score Men's Basketball
Widener 86, Lebanon Valley 75

CHESTER, Pa. - A big second-half run by Widener broke a tie game wide open as Widener surged for an 86-75 win Saturday in Commonwealth Conference play.

The Dutchmen (1-5, 0-2 CC) forced a 51-51 tie with 12:04 remaining in the game after trailing virtually the entire way, but the Pride (6-2, 1-1 CC) scored the next 16 straight points while holding LVC scoreless for nearly four minutes to take control of the game.

Kevin Agnew scored a game-high 26 points, while Kyler Burke added 15 with nine rebounds and Kevin Donahue had 14 points with four assists. The Pride put four in double digits, led by Rob McPherson and Greg Lawson, who had 23 apiece. Lawson tacked on 16 boards to help Widener out-rebound LVC 46-28, including 14 offensive board.

The Dutchmen shot 42.1 percent overall, making 55 percent of their shots after the break after a tough 8-for-28 opening half. LVC made nine of 27 three-pointers, including four each by Agnew and Donahue. Widener converted 47.6 percent from the floor but were held to 2 of 17 from beyond the arc.

Lebanon Valley continued an outstanding streak of foul shooting this season, making 18 of 22 tries to take their season percentage to 79.4.

The Dutchmen trailed for most of the first half but managed to keep it to a single-digit deficit, and went into the half down eight at 28-20 despite their shooting woes. In the second half, LVC turned things around quickly, opening with a Joey Giangiobbe jumper and a Donahue trey to make it a one-basket game, and chipping away until Zach Mrozek took the lead with 12:29 left on a pair of free throws.

Widener answered back with Sardayah Sambo's three-point play, but Luke Berguson tied the game with a layup at the 12:04 mark that would turn out to be LVC's final points for nearly four minutes. Consecutive layups by Lawson and Laron Byrd started Widener's big run, and by the time McPherson dunked home a breakaway steal, the Pride had blown open a 67-51 lead with 9:03 remaining.

The Dutchmen did what they could to get back in the game, with a pair of Burke free throws cutting the lead to nine with 1:59 left, but there wasn't enough time left as Widener made its free throws in the final minute to win.

LVC will break for finals before returning to action Dec. 15 at McDaniel.