Junior Matthew Mancuso (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) continued his strong start to the season on Tuesday night, posting game-highs of 25 points and nine rebounds while three other Royals posted double-figure scoring efforts to lead The University of Scranton to an 84-74 victory over Widener in a non-conference men's basketball contest in the John Long Center.
The Royals (4-0) shot 65.4 percent from the field in the second half to separated themselves from the Pride (3-2) in what was a tied game at the half, 37-37.
Sophomore Logan Bailey (Scranton, Pa./Scranton Prep) added 16 points, junior Kyle DeVerna (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) netted 11 points, and freshman Jackson Danzig (Clarks Green, Pa./Abington Heights) added 10 points in the victory for Scranton.
The opening 10 minutes of Tuesday night's game was a fast-paced, seesaw battle in which the teams traded the lead seven times. Scranton led 18-17 midway through the period before Widener used a 11-1 burst to claim at 28-10 advantage, the largest lead of the half, with 6:36 remaining in the period.
The Royals spent the remainder of the half chasing down the Pride and did just that late in the period as Danzig completed a three-point play with 25 seconds left to send the game into halftime knotted at 37-apiece.
Scranton took a lead early in the second half before a layup gave Widener a 42-41 edge just over a minute into the stanza. That would mark the final lead for the Pride as Mancuso answered with a lay-in of his own on the Royals' next possession and the hosts extended their lead to 53-46 with 13:12 remaining.
Widener was able to trim its deficit to two points midway through the frame and twice pulled to within three points before a jumper by freshman Ben Bosland (Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck) put Scranton's lead at 72-64 with 4:24 showing on the clock.
Four quick points kept the Pride in the game at 72-70 before Scranton closed the game out with 12 of the final 16 points to claim the 10-point victory.
Mancuso's game-high 25 points came on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor and an outstanding, 12-of-13 effort from the free throw line. The junior also blocked three shots in the win.
Bailey made seven of his 10 field goal attempts and added six rebounds and two steals to his 16 points while Danzig rounded out a strong all-around game with eight points, four assists, and three blocks to go with his 10 points.
DeVerna tied with Danzig for a game-high with four assists to pair with his 11 points while Bosland finished with eight points and a pair of steals.
Scranton held a commanding, 42-28 advantage in rebounding for the game to overcome a 23-15 deficit in turnovers.
For the game, the Royals shots 53.6 percent from the field and were 77.8 percent from the charity stripe.
Scranton will be idle until next Wednesday, November 28, when it welcomes Cabrini to the Long Center for a non-conference tilt starting at 8 p.m.