WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – A hot shooting effort in overtime that included seven points from junior David Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Communications Tech) helped power the Lycoming College men's basketball team past Widener University, 70-63, in MAC Commonwealth action at Lamade Gym on Saturday, Jan. 30.
 
After scoring just five points in regulation, Johnson kept the Warriors (15-4 overall, 7-3 MAC Commonwealth) out in front during overtime with seven points off a 3-pointer and a 4-for-4 effort at the free throw line.
 
The Pride (9-11 overall, 4-7 MAC Commonwealth) notched the first bucket in overtime off a rebound of a block by Sardayah Sambo which led to a fastbreak layup by David Nicholson. The Warriors tied the game, though, after a steal by sophomore Chris Wallace (Randallstown, Md./Calvert Hall) led to a pair of free throws from Johnson. After another turnover by Widener, sophomore Alex Newbold (Bowie, Md./DeMatha Catholic) drove in for a layup high off the glass. Widener responded with a pair of free throws to tie the game with 2:38 left, but Johnson was left open for a 3-pointer from the right side and drained it to make it 64-61 with 2:23 left.
 
Widener cut the lead to one with a  layup, but Wallace and Newbold each hit layups in response to take a 68-63 lead with 37 seconds left before Johnson sealed the game with a  pair of free throws with 15 seconds left.
 
The Pride made a dramatic comeback to force overtime, as Lycoming led 55-49 after a deep 3-pointer from freshman T.J. Duckett (Severna Park, Md./Calvert Hall) with 1:45 left. The Pride responded with a pair of free throws from David Nicholson with 34 seconds left before Laron Byrd canned a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left. Forced to foul Johnson, the Pride fell behind by three points with 13 seconds left as Johnson drained both to make it 57-54.
 
The Warriors played solid defense in the final possession of regulation, forcing an off-mark 3-point attempt, but a long rebound came out and got to the hands of David Nicholson, who drained the tying 3-pointer as time expired on the period.
 
After shooting just 30 percent while scoring a season-low 22 points in the first half, the Warriors rebounded in the second half to shoot 46 percent. Down by eight after a layup by Nick Jackson started the period, the Warriors rebounded with 11 straight points, as Duckett canned a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to make it 31-30 to give Lycoming its first lead with 16:30 left.
 
The Pride took the lead back and held it for the next eight minutes before a free throw from Johnson tied the game with 8:24 left. Junior Nykolas King (Harlem, N.Y./Manhattan Center for Science & Math) got Lycoming the lead with a layup off a dish from Newbold with 5:32 left and Lycoming kept that lead until Nicholson's 3-pointer at the horn.
 
In the first half, both teams struggled from the field, but Widener was able to hit 10 field goals and six 3-pointers to build a lead of as many as eight points before a layup by King late with two ticks left in the period made it 28-22 at the break.
 
The Warriors were led by four players in double figures, as they finished the game 24-of-58 from the field (41.4 percent). King posted 13 points and six rebounds and Newbold also added 13 points and seven rebounds. Johnson finished with 12 points, six assists and three rebounds and Wallace finished with 12 points, six rebounds and three steals. Duckett added nine points and seven rebounds and freshman Calvin Chandler (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista) added six points and five rebounds.
 
Kendall Green finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and Nicholson added 12 points and seven rebounds to lead the Pride. Jackson also posted 11 points and Sardayah Sambo finished with four points, six rebounds, four assists and four blocks.
 
The Warriors get back on the court on Monday, Feb. 1, when they head to Stevenson University for another MAC Commonwealth doubleheader. The women tip at 1 p.m. before the men play at 3 p.m.