Widener (2-0) opened the tournament Friday with a 62-47 rout of Kean and won the title Saturday with a 77-72 victory against Lycoming.
Against Kean, junior Essien Ford sparked the Pioneers with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting with senior Brooke Tidswell adding 10. Clarkson also played a huge role with nine points and 10 rebounds.
Clarkson was a force in the championship game, pouring in 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting along with 11 rebounds. All five starters for Widener scored in double figures with senior Brandon Blakey netting 16, junior Malcolm Thomas contributing 13, and Ford and senior Ron Michael adding 10 apiece.
Widener scored 10 straight points over 2 1/2 minutes to open a 69-56 lead with 3:21 remaining. Blakey, who netted all of his points after intermission, poured in eight points during that stretch.
Lycoming closed to 73-67 with 59 seconds left, but Clarkson and Blakey each hit a free throw to ice the contest. This denied the Warriors their eighth straight title in this tournament.
Thomas also was named to the all-tournament team after closing with 20 points and nine rebounds.
Widener is back on the road Tuesday against Chestnut Hill, beginning at 7:00 pm.
WIDMBB vs Lycoming College 11/19/05 4:00 PM at Williamsport, Pa. At Williamsport, Pa. WIDMBB 77, LYCOMING COLLEGE 72 WIDMBB (2-0) Kris Clarkson 8-12 6-12 22; Brandon Blakey 3-4 8-10 16; Malcolm Thomas 5-13 0-0 13; Ron Michael 2-4 6-6 10; Essien Ford 4-14 1-2 10; Brooke Tidswell 2-2 0-0 4; Wyatt Haas 1-2 0-0 2; Nyere Miller 0-1 0-0 0; David Douglas 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-53 21-30 77. LYCOMING COLLEGE (1-1) Jonathan Pribble 13-20 4-5 36; Kevin Morris 4-10 3-3 13; Patrick Baylor 4-6 0-0 10; Greg Sye 3-7 0-0 6; Dave Wilson 0-2 3-3 3; Brad Musser 1-6 0-0 2; Matt McGair 1-1 0-0 2; Jemayne Nowlin 0-1 0-0 0; Kevin Arvai 0-1 0-0 0; Derrick Dull 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 26-57 10-11 72. WIDMBB........................ 37 40 - 77 Lycoming College.............. 31 41 - 72 3-point goals-WIDMBB 6-15 (Malcolm Thomas 3-6; Brandon Blakey 2-3; Essien Ford 1-5; Wyatt Haas 0-1), Lycoming College 10-20 (Jonathan Pribble 6-10; Patrick Baylor 2-4; Kevin Morris 2-5; Jemayne Nowlin 0-1). Fouled out--WIDMBB-None, Lycoming College-Greg Sye; Patrick Baylor. Rebounds-WIDMBB 42 (Kris Clarkson 11), Lycoming College 22 (Jonathan Pribble 5). Assists-WIDMBB 10 (Essien Ford 3), Lycoming College 20 (Brad Musser 11). Total fouls-WIDMBB 14, Lycoming College 22. Championship Game of Lycoming Tip-Off Tournament Widener is the 2005 Lycoming Tip-Off Champion