Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson men's basketball team (3-1) used a 16-0 first-half run to pull away from New York City Tech (3-3), 78-43, in the Pioneers' home opener Nov. 25.

Neither team could gain more than a four-point advantage until midway through the first half, when William Paterson blew open a 14-12 lead (9:53) with 16 unanswered points, a run fueled by seven Yellow Jacket turnovers and 6-for-13 (.462) shooting by the Pioneers (30-12, 2:59). Senior Courtney Nelson (Newark, N.J./Bloomfield Tech) helped the Pioneers enter the locker room with a 38-14 lead, thanks to his first-half totals of nine points, two rebounds and three steals.

The Yellow Jackets would get no closer than 15 during the second stanza (38-23, 16:50) as William Paterson again relied on its stifling defense, forcing nine second-half turnovers and 25 total by New York City Tech. The Pioneers outscored the Yellow Jackets 37-12 off turnovers, 23-13 on the fast break and 39-4 off the bench, holding City Tech to a 26.8 (11-41) percent shooting effort overall and a 1-for-12 (.083) night from beyond the arc.

Nelson led a balanced WP attack with 12 points, four rebounds, two assists and three steals. Junior Joseph Ellis (Newark, N.J./Newark Science) added nine tallies, junior Tim Lucas (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) and sophomore Gabriel Paul (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) each had eight, and junior Bobby Dunn (Garwood, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) posted six points, two blocked shots and a team-best seven rebounds. In all, 16 different players saw minutes against City Tech, and 13 got into the scoring column.

Jamaal Hall paced City Tech with 17 points, while Ryan Phillip posted a double-double with 15 tallies and a game-best 10 rebounds.

William Paterson will return to action Saturday, Nov. 29, at Hunter at 1:00 p.m.