Box Score

CHESTER, Pa.- In a tight non-conference battle at Widener, the Mighty Macs battled back from double digit deficits several times, but were unable to get over the hump in a 58-50 loss.  The Mighty Macs (0-2) forced 24 turnovers to stay in the game, but the Pride (2-1) never relinquished the lead and held a 39-20 edge in rebounds.
 
For the game, Immaculata shot 37.7% (20-for-53) and just 2-of-15 from beyond the arc, but dominated inside by scoring 30 points while Widener just had 10.
 
Junior Ron Melton scored a career-high 15 points to lead the Mighty Macs and also had five steals, a team-high, while shooting 7-for-12.  Sophomore Roy Ferrell Jr. filled up the stat sheet again with 13 points, a team-high six rebounds, and three steals.  Junior Tony Calamaro had seven points and four rebounds while sophomores Mike Griffin and Mike Sturdivant, and senior Mamadou Diakite had four points apiece.
 
Immaculata started the game very slow as Widener jumped out to a 17-2 advantage just 7:34 into the game, but the Mighty Macs immediately showed some resolve.  Melton hit the first field goal of the game for IU at the 12:05 mark to start a 16-1 run over the next 10:21 to tie the game at 18-18.  The Immaculata defense was outstanding as they went 10:56 without allowing a made field goal by the Pride while forcing 12 Widener turnovers.  Griffin and senior Xavier Brown each had a bucket during the run while Melton, Sturdivant, and Ferrell Jr. each scored four points to fuel the comeback.
 
Widener would hit a late three in the half to send the game to the locker room with IU trailing, 21-18.
 
The Pride would start the second half much like they did the first half as they grew their lead up to 12 points, their largest of the second half, at 39-27 with 12 minutes to go in the game.  Yet again, the Mighty Macs showed some resiliency in trimming the lead all the way down to two points with a 13-3 run over the next four minutes.
 
Ferrell Jr. and Melton did most of the heavy lifting as they combined for 12 of the 13 points, including a three-pointer from Ferrell Jr. and a traditional three-point play from Melton.  The run came to a close with a free throw from Calamaro.
 
Widener would extend their lead momentarily, but Melton again had a response to make it 45-43 with six minutes remaining.
 
The Pride would then hit eight consecutive free throws and a three-pointer down the stretch to outscore IU 13-7 the rest of the way and deal the Mighty Macs a 58-50 defeat.
 
IU will continue their challenging road start this Saturday at Philadelphia University with a 2 p.m. start.