No. 9 Pioneers Fall at Manhattanville, 67-66

Samir Sanu had 14 points in a loss at Manhattanville.

PURCHASE, N.Y. – In a game that saw 15 lead changes and five ties, the No. 9 William Paterson men's basketball team (10-3) came up just short in a 67-66 loss at Manhattanville (9-2) Jan. 6.

Niether team led by more than four until midway through the second half, when Samir Sanu's (Edison, N.J./Sayreville) three-pointer gave the Pioneers a six-point edge (51-45, 8:55). However, a 10-0 Manhattanville run later in the half pushed the Valiants ahead 58-55 with 4:13 remaining.

Senior All-American Luis Martinez (Passaic, N.J./Clifton) nailed a three-pointer with 2:02 remaining to give the Pioneers a 63-62 advantage, but Manhattanville answered with a three-pointer and two free throws to go ahead by four (67-63, 0:41). Sanu's three with 26 seconds to play cut the lead to one (67-66), but the Pioneers could not score the go-ahead basket in the closing seconds.

Martinez led the Pioneers with 19 points and six rebounds. Sanu added 14 tallies.

William Paterson is ranked ninth in this week's d3hoops.com National Top 25 Poll (Jan. 3).

The Pioneers will return to conference action Wednesday, Jan. 10, at New Jersey City at 8:00 p.m.

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