WIDENER MEN
Rogers Williams (14-14, 8-8 CCC) at No. 16 Widener (23-4, 12-2 MAC Commonwealth)
Schwartz Center, 7:40p.m., Friday
Roger Williams: The Hawks are in the NCAA tournament for the first time, having won the Commonwealth Coast Conference tournament for the first time since 1999as a No. 5seed. They entered the tournament with four straight losses, two of which they avenged in the tournament. For most of the year, the Hawks were entertaining, if nothing else. They are 15th in the nation in field goal percentage at 48.76, 14th in 3-point field goal percentage and 32nd in 3-pointers made. Mac Annus leads the team at 20.4 points per game, followed by John Ah Kao at 14.8 and Finn Miller at 11.6. They are susceptible on the boards, with a rebounding margin of minus 5.9 per game, the worst of any tournament team.
Widener: The Pride were rolling with eight straight wins until a humbling by Eastern, outscored 50-23in the second half of a 98-69 pasting in the MAC title game. They were ranked most of the season to get into the tournament for the 19th time. Widener is solid on both ends of the court, 29th in the nation in 3-pointers made and 20th in turnover margin. MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year Dominic Dunn leads the Pride with 14.1points and 7.7rebounds per game. Kevin Schenk averages 11.6ppg. Howie Rankine orchestrates the attack at 9.8 points and 3.7assists per game. The Pride have seven players who average at least seven points per game and have used the same starting five in 26 of 27 games.
Winner gets: Winner of No. 23Christopher Newport (21-6) and Hobart (22-5)