Box Score
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Senior
Jason Cameron (Cliffside Park, N.J./Cliffside Park) scored a career-best 26 points as William Paterson (17-5, 9-2 NJAC) secured a bid to the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament with a 61-53 victory at New Jersey City (14-10, 6-6 NJAC) Feb. 16.
Cameron posted his 26 tallies on 7-for-12 (.583) shooting, including a 5-for-9 (.556) effort from three-point range. Senior
Joey Spiegel (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) added 18 points, four assists and three steals, making six of nine (.667) shots, while sophomore
Abdoulaye Ouedraogo (Newark, N.J./Newark Science) had six points and 10 rebounds for the Pioneers.
The Pioneer defense held the Gothic Knights to 28.6 (16-56) percent shooting, including an 8-for-34 (.235) effort during the second half. NJCU made just six of 21 (.286) shots from beyond the arc, while William Paterson was 6-for-15 (.400) from long range and 19-of-44 (.432) from the floor overall.
New Jersey City owned a nine-point lead (19-10) 9:18 into the contest, but William Paterson answered with a 14-3 run to take a 24-22 edge with 5:32 to play in the period, and a 6-0 spurt gave the Pioneers a 32-26 halftime lead.
The two teams were deadlocked again at 33-33 at the 15:07 mark of the second half when William Paterson broke open the game with a 19-3 burst, as Cameron made four of his five three-pointers to stake WP to a 52-36 lead with 9:19 to play. For Cameron, it was his second big outburst of the season against the Gothic Knights, as he poured in 22 points in a 77-69 Pioneer victory against NJCU Jan. 19.
With two games remaining, William Paterson (9-2 NJAC) remains in first place overall in the NJAC, and at the top of the North Division standings ahead of Montclair State (7-4), Ramapo (7-4), NJCU (6-6) and Rutgers-Newark (6-6). Richard Stockton (9-3) continues to lead the South Division, followed by Rowan (5-6) and Kean (4-7). The top three teams from each division will qualify for the NJAC Tournament, and the winner of both the North and South will receive a first-round bye.
William Paterson will celebrate Senior Night when the Pioneers host Ramapo Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 8:00 p.m.
