PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College men's basketball team had its worst offensive game of the season on Saturday afternoon, as the Valiants shot just 30.9 percent from the field in dropping a 71-48 contest to Widener University in the championship game of the 2015 AJ Buchanan Classic, held this weekend at Kennedy Gymnasium.
 
After firing on all cylinders in the second half of yesterday's win, the offense disappeared for Manhattanville (3-2) on Saturday against a quality Widener team, as the home team hit just 17 of 55 attempts from the field, including a difficult 3-of-22 (13.6 percent) mark from beyond the arc. Conversely, Widener (3-2) hit 16-of-30 shots in the second half to finish at 44.8 percent (30 of 67) for the afternoon.
 
Sophomore Alex Tuci (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) led the Valiants with 13 points and added seven rebounds to earn a spot on the All-Tournament team alongside senior Anthony Maestre (Bronx, N.Y./Mount St. Michael Academy), who had a tough day on Saturday with just seven points. Sardayah Sambo paced the Pride with 22 points and nine rebounds on the way to Tournament Most Valuable Player recognition, while fellow All-Tournament honoree Laron Byrd added eight points, six rebounds and five assists on Saturday.
 
Widener led for most of the opening 20 minutes, but Manhattanville always had an answer to a Widener run in keeping the contest close. The Pride's largest lead was seven on three occasions, the last coming late in the half before a three from sophomore Dom Arena (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) moved the Valiants back within four (34-30) at the half.
 
The home team hung with Widener to start the second half, with a Maestre jumper leaving the Valiants down six at 45-39 with 14:55 left. But the offense disappeared soon after that, as the Valiants hit on only 1-of-8 shots and turned the ball over five times during a 14-2 Widener run that put the Pride up 59-41 with 7:20 left and effectively clinched the championship for the visitors.
 
In addition to Byrd, Tuci and Maestre, York (N.Y.) College forward Anthony Mason and Southern Virginia University forward David Baety earned spots on the All-Tournament Team. York defeated Southern Virginia, 83-75, in today's consolation game behind a game-high 26 points from Rashaan Bailey, who went a perfect 16-of-16 from the charity stripe in addition to 5-of-9 from the field. Kevin Walker had a team-high 17 for SVU on Saturday.
 
Manhattanville will play once more before Thanksgiving, as the Valiants remain at home to host the University of Valley Forge on Tuesday at 2 p.m.