OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Sophomore DeJuan Smith led three players in double figures with 18 points leading Albright to a 65-59 MAC Commonwealth victory over Stevenson at Owings Mills Gymnasium.
 
Smith was 8-of-12 from the free throw line and also added seven assists and five rebounds to lead the Lions. Omari Ringgold added 17 points and Evan Ward finished with 16 points and tied his career high with 15 rebounds.
 
Ward, who was 7-of-13 from the floor, has notched a double-double in four of the last five games for Albright.
 
Erik Fisher led Stevenson with a game-high 30 points, while Sean Mayberry added 14 points.
 
Albright improved to 5-7 overall and 2-1 in conference play, while Stevenson dropped to 4-9 overall and 2-2 in the MAC Commonwealth.
 
Albright used a big run early in the first half to take control of the game as the Lions broke a 9-9 deadlock with a 13-0 run.
 
Ward scored seven points during the outburst and capped the run with a three-pointer that gave the Lions a 22-9 lead with 8:20 to play in the first half.
 
A pair of free throws by Ringgold gave Albright a 31-20 lead with 2:20 to play before halftime before Fisher connected on a pair of baskets that cut the Lions lead to 31-24 at halftime.
 
Joe Kiely opened the second half with a layup for the Mustangs, but a basket by Ringgold and a Smith free throw pushed the lead to 34-26 with 18:24 to play in the game.
 
Back-to-back baskets by Smith gave Albright its largest lead of the game at 48-34 with 11:21 to play, but the Mustangs would rally.
 
Fisher scored 10 straight points for Stevenson to cut the Albright lead to 48-44 with 9:25 left in the second half.
 
Smith answered for the Lions by scoring five consecutive points that increased the lead to 53-44 with 8:07 to play.
 
A layup by Thomas Vazzana gave Albright 60-51 lead with 3:33 left to play, but Mayberry scored six straight points to bring the Mustangs to within 60-57 with 1:33 to play.
 
Smith ended the run with a jumper, but Mayberry scored again to cut the lead to 62-59 with 47 seconds left.
 
Ward then scored on a jumper and added a free throw to seal the victory for the Lions.
 
Albright returns to action on Wednesday (Jan. 6) when it hosts Widener at 8 p.m. in the Bollman Center.