Juniata used a 9-2 run to open a 51-41 lead with 7:43 remaining. Brian Cannon netted four points in that span and Nick Hager buried a 3-pointer.
Widener cut the margin to 59-53 with 3:28 left when senior Malcolm Thomas hit a jumper. But Brent Ferko made 1-of-2 from the line and Kyle Opitz added two with 2:23 left for a 62-53 Juniata lead. Widener got no closer than six.
Jones kept the Pride (11-9, 6-4 CC) in it by scoring 12 points in the second half. He finished the contest making 7-of-9 from the floor in just 19 minutes.
Senior Terry Smith had 13 points and six rebounds with Thomas scoring 12 points for Widener, which shot 42 percent (22-of-52) from the floor.
Brian Cannon scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half, shot 8-of-16 overall and grabbed eight rebounds for the Eagles (12-9, 6-4), who outscored the Pride 47-30 after intermission. Hager and Opitz scored 13 points apiece.
Juniata shot 58 percent (26-of-54) from the field in the second half and 48 percent (26-of-54) overall.
Widener hits the road Wednesday to visit Albright as part of a doubleheader with the women’s team. The women’s contest starts at 6:00 pm, followed by the men’s contest at 8:00 pm.
Juniata vs Widener 2/03/07 3:10 pm at Chester, PA At Chester, PA JUNIATA 71, WIDENER 62 JUNIATA (12-9, 6-4 CC) Brian Cannon 8-16 3-3 19; Kyle Opitz 3-5 6-6 13; Nick Hager 4-8 2-2 13; Neil Holloway 4-5 1-1 9; Chris Jasiota 3-8 0-0 6; Brent Ferko 2-4 1-2 5; Aaron Chamberlain 1-7 1-2 4; Eric Mueseler 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 26-54 14-16 71. WIDENER (11-9, 6-4 CC) Jones, James 7-9 0-0 16; Smith, Terry 5-13 3-4 13; Thomas, Malcolm 4-9 3-4 12; Ford, Essien 3-8 2-2 9; Johnson, Jamarr 1-4 3-5 5; Miller, Nyere 1-5 0-0 3; Sosna, Matt 0-3 2-2 2; Douglas, David 1-1 0-0 2; Evans, Jon 0-0 0-0 0; Edmunds, Bobby 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-52 13-17 62. Juniata....................... 24 47 - 71 Widener....................... 32 30 - 62 3-point goals-Juniata 5-15 (Nick Hager 3-7; Kyle Opitz 1-3; Aaron Chamberlain 1-4; Brian Cannon 0-1), Widener 5-11 (Jones, James 2-2; Ford, Essien 1-3; Miller, Nyere 1-4; Thomas, Malcolm 1-2). Fouled out--Juniata-None, Widener-Jones, James. Rebounds-Juniata 31 (Brian Cannon 8), Widener 30 (Smith, Terry 6). Assists-Juniata 10 (Aaron Chamberlain 4), Widener 12 (Ford, Essien 2; Miller, Nyere 2; Douglas, David 2; Thomas, Malcolm 2). Total fouls-Juniata 17, Widener 19. A-385