Box Score

WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (3-3, 0-1 NJAC) twice made it a one-possession game during the final 75 seconds, but Montclair State (4-1, 1-0 NJAC) was able to come away with a 58-54 win in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) men's basketball season opener for both schools Dec. 1.

Senior guard Gabriel Paul (Newark, N.J./Hillside) drew contact and finished a bucket in the lane with 1:14 to play, making it a 54-51 contest, but he could not convert the free throw for the old-fashioned three-point play. After a miss by Rodney Freeney and a defensive rebound by Paul at the other end of the floor, the Pioneers burned their final timeout with 37.6 seconds on the clock. Junior Nolan Hill (Edgewater, N.J./Bergen Catholic) ball-faked his man into the air, but his travel on the baseline gave the ball back to the Red Hawks less than 10 seconds later.

The Pioneers' swarming defense forced a travel by A.J. Larkin, switching the possession to William Paterson with 23.5 seconds to play. Paul elected to drive to the rim, but his shot was short, and Sean Young pulled down the rebound and was fouled. He made both free throws for a 56-51 margin with 9.9 seconds left, and after a Paul Siljee (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) three-pointer pulled William Paterson within two at 56-54 with 3.0 seconds on the clock, Freeney was fouled after the inbounds pass. He converted both attempts to snuff out the Pioneers' comeback hopes with 1.8 seconds remaining.

Senior guard Nick Allan (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) led William Paterson with 12 points. Paul had 11, and Hill and Siljee each chipped in eight.

Young and Andrew August led Montclair State with 14 points apiece. Larkin chipped in 11 tallies and three assists.

The Red Hawks led by as many as 10 during the opening stanza and took a 29-23 advantage into halftime. Montclair State scored the first nine points of the second stanza for its largest lead of the contest, 38-23, with 16:19 left.

The Pioneers will play at Richard Stockton Saturday, Dec. 4, at 2:00 p.m.