ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Basketball returned to wining ways with an 86-73 home win over MAC Commonwealth rival Widener. Eastern (14-3, 9-1) led for the final 34 minutes, but had to battle through second half foul trouble to earn the win. The Eagles shot nearly 59 percent from the floor for the game. Sophomore guard Kaeshawn Ward scored a game-high 20 points.

The Pride (7-11, 2-8) scored the first five points of the game and led 8-2 but the Eagles went ahead for good at 15-12 on a Ward 3-pointer with 14 minutes to play. Eastern had five different players make first-half 3-pointers and the team was 5-for-10 from distance, but it was inside that the hosts made things work. The Eagles made 12-of-15 shots at the rim and were 14-of-18 in the paint on the way to a 47-32 halftime lead. William Blet capped the half with a 3-pointer from the logo as time expired. 

Joshua Grant had nine of his 16 points before intermission. Grant was 5-of-7 from the floor with three steals. The Eagles held the 15-point edge despite giving up 10 offensive rebounds. The Pride turned those into 11 second-chance points. All ten Eastern players who saw the court in the opening half scored.

"We gave up so many rebounds," Head Coach Dan Pruessner said after the game. "It felt like we were losing, and I looked up and we were up 15. We made shots and found guys at the rim, but it did not feel easy."

On the play before Blet hit his long-range buzzer beater, he picked up a blocking foul at the basket with five seconds left. That foul proved to be consequential. He picked up a quick third foul and was whistled for two more fouls and was only able to play seven minutes in the second half before fouling out. He finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. 

With Blet in foul trouble, the Eagles needed someone to step up on the boards. Draig Cooley and Olutobi Akinbayo each grabbed three defensive boards in the second half. Cooley, in his first action since the Lehigh game, finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a blocked shot. As important as his numbers were, Colley made big plays when the Eagles needed them. After Widener cut the Eastern lead to eight with three minutes to play, he scored inside late in the clock against heavy pressure. The Pride scored to again cut the Eastern lead to eight, but Cooley caught a tough pass in the lane and found Grant for a corner 3-pointer to put the Eagles up 78-67.

The Eagles made their free throws down the stretch to secure the win. Grant tied a career-high and Ward recorded his first-career 20 point game. Jaron Fairweather finished with 10 points, five rebounds, four assists, and a pair of steals. 

"Josh made some big shots," Pruessner said. "It was good to have him step up. Having Draig back was huge. He makes really smart basketball plays. There were several moments late where he recognized our need for a play and made it. It is hard to believe that Kae has never scored 20 points in a game (Ward is averaging nearly 13 points per game in his career), but I guess that speaks to his consistency. We need to tighten things up on the glass, but it is good to bounce back with a win."

Ward is averaging nearly 17 points per game and is 9-for-18 from 3-point range since the calender turned. 

The Eagles return to action at Alvernia University on Feb 2. Eastern remains tied with Hood College atop the MAC Commonwealth. The Blazers rolled to a 110-78 home win over Stevenson tonight.