News Release

GRANTHAM, Pa. — Senior Kris Clarkson scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, lifting Widener to a 76-70 victory at Messiah in Grantham, PA and sole possession of first place in the Commonwealth Conference.

The Pioneers (15-1, 5-1 CC) rallied from a 65-60 deficit with five minutes left, scoring seven straight points over the next 90 seconds for a 67-65 lead. The lead grew to seven and the Falcons (11-5, 4-1) got no closer than three points thereafter.

Clarkson's effort helped Widener move one game ahead of Messiah, Albright and Juniata for first place. Junior Malcolm Thomas scored 17 points and senior Ron Michael added 12 for the Pioneers, who shot 55 percent (29-of-53) from the floor.

Zach Wiernicki poured in 23 points and Jared Yoder added 15 for Messiah, which shot 43 percent (23-of-53) from the field.

Widener returns home Wednesday to face Elizabethtown, beginning at 7:00 pm.

Widener vs Messiah
1/21/06 8:00 PM at Grantham, PA
At Grantham, PA
WIDENER 76, MESSIAH 70
WIDENER (15-1, 5-1)
Kris Clarkson 14-22 3-8 31; Malcolm Thomas 6-11 5-6 17; Ron Michael 4-6 4-5
12; Brandon Blakey 2-3 3-4 8; Essien Ford 3-11 1-5 8; Nyere Miller 0-0 0-0
0; Terry Smith 0-0 0-2 0; Wyatt Haas 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-53 16-30 76.
MESSIAH (11-6. 4-2)
Zach Wiernicki 8-18 5-8 23; Jared Yoder 6-8 1-1 15; Steve King 3-10 4-4 13;
Quinn Mccullough 4-10 2-3 12; Drew Sneeringer 1-1 0-0 3; Matt Henninger 0-3
2-2 2; Dan Snyder 1-3 0-0 2; Darryl Brown 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-53 14-18 70.
Widener.......................   38   38  -   76
Messiah.......................   44   26  -   70
3-point goals-Widener 2-10 (Brandon Blakey 1-2; Essien Ford 1-7; Malcolm
Thomas 0-1), Messiah 10-26 (Steve King 3-8; Jared Yoder 2-3; Quinn
Mccullough 2-6; Zach Wiernicki 2-7; Drew Sneeringer 1-1; Matt Henninger
0-1). Fouled out--Widener-Ron Michael, Messiah-None. Rebounds-Widener 30
(Kris Clarkson 12), Messiah 31 (Zach Wiernicki 11). Assists-Widener 17
(Malcolm Thomas 4; Brandon Blakey 4), Messiah 16 (Quinn Mccullough 7). Total
fouls-Widener 16, Messiah 23.