News Release

CHESTER, Pa. — Senior Kris Clarkson scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds, but Widener had its three-game winning streak snapped with an 82-80 Commonwealth Conference loss to Elizabethtown at Schwartz Center.

Widener (15-2, 5-2 CC), which led by as many as nine points early in the second half, held a 75-69 cushion with 4:04 left on Clarkson’s dunk. But Elizabethtown went on a 13-5 run the rest of the way, handing Widener its first home loss in six outings this season.

The Blue Jays began the deciding spurt by scoring nine straight points. Brian Schreiber poured in the first seven points on three baskets and Michael Schatzmann added a layup with 1:22 left for a 78-75 margin.

Clarkson hit a jumper with 1:01 to play as the Pioneers closed to 78-77. The Blue Jays responded on the other end as Schreiber’s layup off a backdoor pass from Luke Ledyard with 37 seconds left made it a three-point contest.

Widener looked for the tie, but junior Malcolm Thomas missed a 3-pointer from the left corner and Chad Piersol corralled the rebound. Schatzmann converted two from the line with 5.9 seconds left to ice the contest.

Clarkson shot 10-of-17 overall to help Widener hit 62 percent (13-of-21) in the second half, but Elizabethtown shot 61 percent (17-of-28) after intermission. Senior Ron Michael scored 17 points with Thomas and junior Essien Ford netting 16 apiece for the Pioneers, who shot only 68 percent (23-of-34) from the line.

Brian Schreiber netted 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting, Piersol scored 21 and Brad Schreiber added 14 for the Blue Jays, who shot 59 percent (32-of-54) overall and were 9-of-17 from 3-point range.

Widener returns home Saturday against Susquehanna for a 3:00 pm tip-off, preceded by the women’s contest at 1:00 pm.

Elizabethtown vs Widener
1/25/06 7:00 pm at Chester, PA
At Chester, PA
ELIZABETHTOWN 82, WIDENER 80
ELIZABETHTOWN (12-5, 4-3 CC)
Brian Schreiber 10-13 0-0 24; Chad Piersol 7-8 3-3 21; Brad Schreiber 7-8
0-0 14; Michael Schatzmann 2-5 5-5 9; Greg Brizek 2-9 0-0 5; Brian Goodwin
1-2 1-3 3; Justin Shade 1-2 0-0 2; Luke Ledyard 1-3 0-0 2; Greg Adams 1-3
0-0 2; Rob Fusaro 0-0 0-0 0; Bryce Rodgers 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 32-54 9-11 82.
WIDENER (15-2, 5-2 CC)
Kris Clarkson 10-17 2-9 23; Ron Michael 5-6 7-9 17; Essien Ford 5-8 4-4 16;
Malcolm Thomas 4-12 6-6 16; Brandon Blakey 1-2 3-5 5; Brooke Tidswell 1-2
1-1 3; Nyere Miller 0-1 0-0 0; Terry Smith 0-0 0-0 0; Wyatt Haas 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals 26-48 23-34 80.
Elizabethtown.................   40   42  -   82
Widener.......................   43   37  -   80
3-point goals-Elizabethtown 9-17 (Chad Piersol 4-4; Brian Schreiber 4-5;
Greg Brizek 1-5; Brian Goodwin 0-1; Michael Schatzmann 0-2), Widener 5-12
(Malcolm Thomas 2-5; Essien Ford 2-4; Kris Clarkson 1-1; Brooke Tidswell
0-1; Brandon Blakey 0-1). Fouled out--Elizabethtown-Brad Schreiber,
Widener-None. Rebounds-Elizabethtown 25 (Brian Schreiber 5), Widener 32
(Kris Clarkson 8). Assists-Elizabethtown 18 (Greg Brizek 6), Widener 14
(Brandon Blakey 5). Total fouls-Elizabethtown 23, Widener 15. A-475