Box Score
UNION, N.J. – William Paterson junior guard Jordan Fowler (Montclair, N.J./Montclair) scored a game-high 20 points in just 13 minutes off the bench to lead the Pioneers (6-1, 1-0 NJAC) past host Kean (1-4, 0-1 NJAC), 56-42, Dec. 8 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both schools.
For the Cougars, a pair of freshmen scored 10 points apiece, as guards Keith Williams and Derrick McCord also combined for three steals and five rebounds in the loss, as Kean played its first game without NJAC leading scorer Lamar Wright, who is injured.
The Cougars led for much of the first half, extending their advantage to as many as five points on a pair of occasions, as five of the team's six field goals were from beyond the arc. William Paterson took its only lead of the half on a free throw by senior guard Joey Spiegel (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) with just four seconds left for the 20-19 lead at halftime.
The Pioneers hit just 18.5 percent of their shots from the floor (5-27), but had eight free throws (8-14) to just two from the foul line for Kean (2-4) in the opening half.
In the second half, Kean regained the lead and led by as many as three points on a layup by McCord just 4:32 into the period. A pair of free throws by Fowler tied the game at 27-27, and Fowler followed with a three-pointer on the Pioneers' next possession to give WP the lead for good.
William Paterson built a seven-point lead on a layup by Spiegel with less than 10 minutes remaining before the Cougars trimmed the deficit back down to two points at 40-38 with 6:46 left on a three-pointer by rookie Farod Robinson. Kean managed just four points the rest of the game, as the Pioneers closed the contest with a 16-4 run for the 14-point victory.
For the Pioneers, Fowler scored all but one of his points in the second half, hitting 7-of-8 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the line for the game. Senior guard Jason Cameron (Cliffside Park, N.J./Cliffside Park) added nine points and five rebounds, while Spiegel finished with eight points and three steals.
William Paterson returns to action Wednesday, Dec. 12, at home against FDU-Florham at 7:00 p.m.
