CHESTER, Pa. – Sophomore Omari Ringgold scored a game-high 19 points, but David Nicholson went 8-of-8 from the free throw line in overtime leading Widener to an 80-77 victory over Albright on Wednesday in the Commonwealth Conference opener for both schools in the Schwartz Center.

Nicholson, who was 10-of-10 from the free throw line for the game, made two free throws with seven seconds remaining in overtime to give Widener a 78-74 lead.

Josh Marquez drained a three-pointer for the Lions to cut the lead to 78-77, but Nicholson made two more free throws with 1.3 seconds to play giving the Pride an 80-77 lead.

The Lions inbounded the ball, but were unable to get a game-tying shot away before the buzzer sounded.

Sardayah Sambo led Widener with 18 points, while Nicholson finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Jermaine Kamara added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Pride.

Albright, which dropped to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in the Commonwealth, also received 18 points from Marquez and 15 points from DeJuan Smith. Evan Ward chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds for the Lions.

The Lions trailed 58-49 with 5:26 to play before staging a comeback.

A layup and two free throws by Ward capped a 6-0 Albright run that brought the Lions to within 58-55 with 1:39 to play in the second period.

Laron Byrd made one of two free throw attempts for Widener to increase the lead to 59-55 with 1:34 remaining, but Smith brought Albright to within 59-57 with a pair of free throws.

After Mark Pryzbylkowski made two free throws for the Pride, Smith drilled a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 61-60 with 1:06 remaining in regulation.

Nicholson made a pair of free throws to increase the lead to 63-60, but Ward answered with a jumper that trimmed the lead to 63-62 with 47 seconds left to play.

Greg Lawson missed two free throw attempts for Widener with 29 seconds to go, but the Lions misfired on their attempt to take the lead.

Kamara made one of two free throw attempts with five seconds left pushing the lead to 64-62, but Marquez hitting a driving layup at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

The Lions held a 67-66 lead in the overtime when Marquez connected on a free throw with 3:22 to play, but Nicholson put Widener ahead to stay when he drained two free throws with 3:06 remaining.

Widener, which improved to 6-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play, held a 34-31 lead at halftime.

Albright returns to action on Saturday (Dec. 6) when it hosts Lebanon Valley at 4 p.m. in the Bollman Center.