CHESTER, Pa. – Junior David Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Communications Tech) posted 19 points and six assists and freshman T.J. Duckett (Severna Park, Md./Calvert Hall) added 15 points to lead the Lycoming College men's basketball team, but a late nine-point run by Widener University helped it take an 81-74 MAC Commonwealth decision on Saturday, Jan. 2, at the Schwartz Athletic Complex.
 
Johnson notched the career-high 19 points off 4-of-8 shooting from the floor and 11-of-15 at the free throw line, while Duckett hit five 3-pointers for the second straight game to lead the Warriors (9-3 overall, 2-2 MAC Commonwealth). Junior Nykolas King (Harlem, N.Y./Manhattan Center for Science & Math) added eight points, six rebounds and three steals and sophomore Chris Wallace (Randallstown, Md./Calvert Hall) finished with six points and a career-high tying 11 rebounds. Both sophomore Alex Newbold (Bowie, Md./DeMatha Catholic) and freshman Calvin Chandler (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista) each added seven points.
 
Widener (5-6 overall, 1-2 MAC Commonwealth) shot 55 percent (28-of-51) from the field to be able to withstand an aggressive Lycoming which had a 44-36 advantage in rebounds, with 21 coming off the offensive glass while holding Widener to four offensive rebounds. Lycoming also forced Widener into 20 turnovers while turning the ball over just 13 times, leading to 33 points off turnover, but Lycoming shot just 35 percent from the floor (25-of-71) and 57 percent at the free throw line (16-of-28).
 
Down by eight points with 1:25 left, Duckett hit a huge 3-pointer to make it a five-point game before a steal led to a pair of free throws by Wallace made it a three-point game at 77-74 with 1:02 left.
 
Forced to win the game at the free throw line, Widener was able to convert four free throws in the final minute while Lycoming missed its last three shots from the field.
 
After Widener hit a 3-pointer to begin the second half to take a 38-28 lead, the Lycoming offense, which shot just 28 percent in the first half, got rolling with a 14-5 run that took the next 3:16 left, as Lycoming hit all five shots during the run and forced two turnovers to cut the lead to one point at 43-42 with 16:32 left.
 
The Warriors continued to push and within the 90 seconds, Johnson scored six points to start a run of 11 straight points to take a 55-47 lead with 13:38 left, as King capped the run with a free throw. Moments later, a jumper Newbold hit a jumper to make it a nine-point game at 60-51.
 
Widener fought back into the game, taking the lead with a 13-3 run to make it 64-63 with 6:04 left. After fighting through twp ties and three lead changes, Widener's John Fender hit a 3-pointer with 3:01 left to give Widener a 71-69 lead and start a run of nine straight points to make it 77-69, setting up Lycoming's final push with 1:25 left.
 
The Warriors struggled from the floor in the first half, shooting just 11-of-39, while Widener shot 55 percent (11-of-20), but the Warriors were able to force 12 turnovers and grabbed 13 offensive rebounds to manage to keep the game close, with Widener being able to stretch the lead no further than seven points.
 
The Pride took a 26-19 lead with 5:27 left after posting a run of six straight points, but the Warriors fought back to make it a two-point game with 3:04 left after a layup by senior John Monkam (Lanham, Md./DuVal). The Pride were able to get the lead back to seven points at the end of the half, though, scoring the last four points to make it 35-28.
 
Widener was led by 21 points and seven rebounds from Kendall Green and 16 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five blocks from Sardayah Sambo. Fender also added 15 points and Nick Jackson posted 10.
 
The Warriors get back on the court with another MAC Commonwealth doubleheader at Messiah College on Wednesday, Jan. 6. The women tip at 6 p.m. before the men play at 8 p.m.