Box Score
NEWARK, N.J. – Senior
Jordan Fowler (East Orange, N.J./Montclair) and junior
Tim Lucas (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) each scored 11 points, but William Paterson (18-5, 7-4 NJAC) could not come up with the victory, losing to host Rutgers-Newark (13-10, 6-5 NJAC) 51-43 Feb. 11.
With two regular-season games remaining, William Paterson is two games behind Montclair State (9-2 NJAC) for first place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference's (NJAC) North Division. The top three teams from each division will qualify for the upcoming NJAC Tournament, with the winner on each side receiving a first-round bye.
Senior forward David Cherry poured in 11 of his game-high 19 points in the second half to lead Rutgers-Newark. Cherry, who knocked down five of nine shots from three-point range, helped keep the Scarlet Raiders alive in the battle for one of six NJAC Championship Tournament berths.
Junior forward Phil Barnes battled inside for a game-high 10 rebounds and added nine points for R-N, while junior guard Tim Smith chipped in eight points, two steals and an assist.
Fowler paced the Pioneers with 11 points, three assists and four rebounds, while Lucas hit three of five shots from beyond the arc for his 11 points.
Rutgers-Newark led the entire second half, but never by more than eight points.
A pair of free throws by Lucas with 4:54 left trimmed the Raider lead to 43-40, but Smith's lone trey of the night at 4:16 pushed the lead back to six. Lucas knocked down a three-pointer with 3:11 left to make it 46-43, but the Pioneers would fail to score another point. A Smith jumper with 1:43 left gave Rutgers-Newark some breathing room before a Barnes free throw at 22 seconds, and a pair of charity tosses by Cherry with seven ticks remaining, sealed the deal.
In a nip-and-tuck opening half, a driving layup by Smith gave Rutgers-Newark a 19-18 lead. There were four lead changes in the closing 4:30 of the period in a physical defensive struggle. Fowler opened the game with a jumper and a dunk before a trey by Lucas gave WPU a quick 7-0 lead. The Raiders didn't get a field goal until Barnes put in a follow shot with nearly seven minutes gone to make it 7-4.
William Paterson will return to action Saturday, Feb. 14, at Ramapo at 3:00 p.m.
