Box Score
WAYNE, N.J. – In the battle of the two remaining undefeated New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) teams, the William Paterson men's basketball team (12-3, 4-0 NJAC) held off New Jersey City (11-5, 4-1 NJAC), 77-69, Jan. 19 at the Rec Center.
The Pioneers started off hot, scoring 46 points in the first half and shooting 70.8 (17-24) percent from the floor. Senior Jason Cameron (Cliffside Park, N.J./Cliffside Park) scored 17 points in the first half, sinking five of six (.833) shots from three-point range and taking the Pioneers into the locker room with a 17 point lead over New Jersey City (46-29).
The Gothic Knights never backed down, coming within eight points twice in the second half. Senior Marques Hill notched 14 points in the game and shot 5-for-5 from the floor. Junior Dana John added 13 points and five rebounds, while shooting 4-for-4 from the free-throw line for NJCU.
But the Gothic Knights were no match for the Pioneers' hot shooting, as WP finished the game 25-of-48 (.521) from the floor overall, and 9-of-17 (.529) from beyond the arc. William Paterson, the national leader in scoring defense (51.7 ppg as of Jan. 14) and the second-ranked team in field-goal percentage defense (.350), held NJCU to 38.6 (22-57) percent shooting for the contest, including a 5-for-21 (.238) effort from three.
Sophomore Abdoulaye Ouedraogo (Newark, N.J./Newark Science) registered his seventh double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Cameron's 22-point game tied his career high record set two seasons ago.
The loss marks the end of New Jersey City's 15-game NJAC regular-season win streak, and makes the Pioneers the only undefeated team in NJAC action.
The Pioneers will next play Wednesday, Jan. 23, at Ramapo at 7:30 p.m.
