Box Score 

GLASSBORO, N.J. – Four Pioneers were in double figures in scoring as No. 16 William Paterson (20-1, 9-0 NJAC) opened up a 28-point first-half lead and cruised from there, defeating host Rowan (14-6, 5-4 NJAC) by an 85-61 score Jan. 30. The victory extended WP's win streak to 18 games while securing the Pioneers' second straight 20-win season.

William Paterson, the New Jersey Athletic Conference's (NJAC) North Division leader and the only team still undefeated in league play, used several big runs during the opening period to pull away from the Profs, who started the day tied with Richard Stockton (5-3 NJAC) for the top spot in the NJAC's South Division. Trailing 8-6, WP scored 11 straight to open up a 17-8 advantage (14:03) as senior Joseph Ellis (Newark, N.J./Newark Science) contributed seven points. Another 11-0 burst gave the Pioneers a 30-13 lead at the 9:55 mark, the start of a 23-2 run that gave William Paterson a comfortable 42-15 edge with 6:11 remaining in the opening period.

William Paterson entered the locker room ahead by 24 points, 49-25, thanks to stellar 56.8 (21-37) percent shooting overall and a 6-for-14 (.429) effort from three-point range. The Pioneers limited the Profs to 10-for-26 (.385) shooting during the opening 20 minutes, out-scored Rowan 22-6 in the paint and had seven steals to the Profs' zero. Ellis poured in 16 first-half points for the Pioneers.

WP extended its lead to as many as 31 points (64-33, 15:12) during the opening minutes of the second period, and that advantage never slipped to less than 21 during the remainder of the contest despite extended minutes for the Pioneers' bench. For the game, William Paterson made nearly 50 percent of its attempts from the field (34-69, .493), turned the ball over just 13 times, out-rebounded the Profs 38-24 and owned a 32-14 advantage in points in the paint.

Ellis finished with 18 points and three assists, senior Abdoulaye Ouedraogo (Newark, N.J./Newark Science) contributed 10 points and a game-best eight rebounds, and classmate Bobby Dunn (Garwood, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson Regional) chipped in 11 tallies. Sophomore Mike Gawronski (Brick, N.J./Brick Twp.) added a career-best 11 points, while senior Eric Moore (Dover, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) chipped in eight tallies, six assists and three steals.

For the Profs, forward Matt DeSouza scored 10 points, while forward Derek Piccini and guard Peter Dinich added nine points apiece. Forward Gary Foster posted seven points and six assists.

William Paterson will return to the Rec Center Wednesday, Feb. 3, to host Ramapo at 8:00 p.m.