Box Score
POMONA, N.J. – The William Paterson men's basketball team (3-4, 0-2 NJAC) overcame a eight-point deficit to pull ahead by four with 2:15 remaining in the second half, but host Richard Stockton (4-2, 2-0 NJAC) rallied to force overtime and eventually earn a 52-49 victory Dec. 4.
William Paterson trailed 40-32 with 8:28 remaining in regulation, but a
Jevoy Whyte (Plainfield, N.J./North Plainfield) bucket and a
Gabriel Paul (Newark, N.J./Hillside) three-pointer started an 11-3 run that ended with a
Nick Allan (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) basket and a 43-43 score with 3:55 left in the second half. The Pioneers got the ball back after a steal, and
Paul Siljee's (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) layup, followed by another Osprey turnover and a Whyte jumper, handed William Paterson a 47-43 advantage with 2:15 to play.
The Pioneers had a chance to add to that lead after another Stockton turnover, but two WP misses and a turnover were followed by a foul, and the Ospreys' DiAndre Brown was 1-for-2 at the line (47-44, 1:14). After Stockton rebounded its own miss from the charity stripe, and pulled down the offensive rebound of an off-mark trey, William Paterson fouled. The Pioneers were fortunate to see Kai Massaquoi miss both free throws with 46 seconds remaining, but Stockton came up with the rebound, and another WP foul sent Massaquoi back to the line with 39 seconds on the clock. Massaquoi made the first attempt from the charity stripe and missed the second, but teammate Pat Kelly cleaned up the glass and converted the putback, knotting the score at 47-47. William Paterson had one final chance to win the game in regulation, but a turnover during its final possession sent the two teams to extra time.
Paul's second-chance basket gave the Pioneers an early 49-47 edge to begin the overtime period, but that would be the final points of the game for William Paterson. After the two teams traded turnovers, Nnamdi Usuwa drained a jumper to tie the game (49-49, 1:20), and following a pair of misses by Paul at the free-throw line, Matt Haddix gave Stockton a 51-49 lead with a layup with 23 seconds left. A missed WP three-pointer was rebounded by the Ospreys and the Pioneers were forced to foul, allowing Usuwa to go 1-for-2 at the stripe with five seconds remaining, making it a three-point game. Junior
Nolan Hill's (Edgewater, N.J./Bergen Catholic) running three-point attempt glanced off the rim as time expired.
Paul had 12 points, four rebounds and five assists, while Allan posted 11 tallies. Siljee finished with eight points, and junior
Robert Whetham (North Haledon, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) pulled down a team-best eight rebounds.
Usuwa contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds for Richard Stockton. Massaquoi and Colin Horsch each had 11 tallies. The game was a rematch of the 2010 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament title game, a contest the host Pioneers won by a 70-58 score.
The Pioneers will visit York (N.Y.) Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 6:00 p.m.
