Susquehanna (10-5, 2-2 CC) used a 15-8 spurt early in the second half to close to 49-45 with 14:28 remaining thanks to five points from Kevin Cuff and four from Joel Patch.
The Crusaders moved to 62-56 with 7:08 remaining on a 3-pointer from Andy Gaebel. But Widener (9-5, 4-0) went on a cruise control with an 11-2 binge in just under five minutes for a 73-58 lead with 2:18 to go. Thomas scored six points in that run and sophomore Nyere Miller opened it with a 3-pointer.
Thomas hit 9-of-13 from the field, helping the Pride shoot an astounding 59 percent (13-of-22) from the floor in the second half and a season-best 53 percent (29-of-55) overall. He is averaging 17.9 points over his last eight contests with three double-doubles.
It was Widener’s third straight win to match a season high and fifth in six outings.
Senior Terry Smith had 17 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Senior Essien Ford scored 13 points, Miller had 12 and eight rebounds, and freshman Bobby Edmunds dished seven assists.
Cuff poured in 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting, Patch had 11 and 10 rebounds and Brad Okonak scored 12 points for the Crusaders, who shot 41 percent (26-of-63) overall.
Widener is on the road Wednesday against Lebanon Valley, beginning at 7:30 pm.
Susquehanna vs Widener 1/13/07 3:00 pm at Chester, PA At Chester, PA WIDENER 78, SUSQUEHANNA 63 SUSQUEHANNA (10-5, 2-2 CC) Kevin Cuff 8-16 3-4 21; Brad Okonak 5-7 0-0 12; Joel Patch 5-16 1-2 11; Zac Smith 2-6 0-0 5; Bryan Majors 2-10 0-0 5; Brandon Andersen 2-3 0-0 4; Andy Gaebel 1-3 0-0 3; Matt McDevitt 1-2 0-0 2; Chad Cohle 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-63 4-6 63. WIDENER (9-5, 4-0 CC) Thomas, Malcolm 9-13 4-7 22; Smith, Terry 5-12 7-8 17; Ford, Essien 5-11 0-0 13; Miller, Nyere 5-7 0-0 12; Douglas, David 2-5 2-4 6; Edmunds, Bobby 2-4 0-0 5; Jones, James 1-3 0-0 3; Sosna, Matt 0-0 0-0 0; O'Connor, Brian 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-55 13-19 78. Susquehanna................... 30 33 - 63 Widener....................... 39 39 - 78 3-point goals-Susquehanna 7-21 (Kevin Cuff 2-4; Brad Okonak 2-4; Bryan Majors 1-5; Zac Smith 1-4; Andy Gaebel 1-2; Matt McDevitt 0-1; Joel Patch 0-1), Widener 7-17 (Ford, Essien 3-6; Miller, Nyere 2-4; Jones, James 1-1; Edmunds, Bobby 1-3; Douglas, David 0-2; Thomas, Malcolm 0-1). Fouled out--Susquehanna-None, Widener-None. Rebounds-Susquehanna 32 (Joel Patch 10), Widener 34 (Smith, Terry 10). Assists-Susquehanna 15 (Joel Patch 4; Bryan Majors 4), Widener 17 (Edmunds, Bobby 7). Total fouls-Susquehanna 16, Widener 8. A-185