OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Stevenson men's basketball again dropped a close contest, this time falling 69-65 to Widener inside an energized Owings Mills Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. 

Stevenson (10-11, 6-9) has now lost three consecutive contests by five points or less. Meanwhile, Widener (12-11, 6-8) held on down the stretch over the final five minutes to secure the team's fifth straight victory. 

Khalil Richard fired in 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting in a losing cause, while McKale Williams chipped in 12 points in 22 minutes off the bench. Steven Matlack (17) and Pat Holden (13) anchored the Pride offensive output, combining for 30 points and some key offensive plays when it mattered most. 

Jared Peters added 12 points for Widener, which shot over 40% from the floor and beyond the arc. The Pride led by as many as nine in the opening half, but the Mustangs used a timely scoring run to get back to even footing. 

Ethan Jones converted a game-tying bucket just over midway through the first before Widener took back the momentum. Nate Arrington made an acrobatic shot with under 20 seconds left in the frame, trimming the Stevenson deficit to 52-50 at the halftime break. 

A close contest throughout, Widener took a 32-30 lead into the locker room. The Pride clung to its narrow advantage throughout the second half before Stevenson leveled the score at 51 with a three-point bomb from Richard. After an offensive rebound, the Mustangs took the 54-51 edge with a triple from Cameron Sapienza at the 6:03 mark. '

Matlack hit a dagger go-ahead shot at 4:52 in the second half and Widener did not trail again. Stevenson trimmed the deficit to one point on several occasions, but the balanced Pride responded each time and did just enough at the foul line to preserve the conference win. 

GAME NOTES 

• Stevenson has now dropped five of its last six, losing its past three games by a combined eight points. 
• Four players notched five points or better off the bench for the Mustangs. 
• Widener shot nearly 50% from the floor in the second half as Stevenson attempted to make its run. 
• Much of the first half had an emphasis on scoring in the paint before things opened up from long range over the final 20 minutes. 
• Sapienza provided a big spark for the Mustangs, posting three points, grabbing two rebounds, dishing out two assists, adding a steal and taking a charge in the span of nine minutes. 

UP NEXT

• Stevenson: The Mustangs wrap up the regular season, hosting Albright on Saturday, February 19 at 3:00 p.m. 
• Widener: The Pride welcome Alvernia on Tuesday, February 15 at 8:00 p.m.