Box Score
JAMAICA, N.Y. – Senior guard
Nick Allan (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) poured in a career-high 27 points to lead the William Paterson men's basketball team (4-4) to a 69-64 victory at York, N.Y. (2-7) Dec. 7.
Allan was 11-for-18 (.611) from the floor and 3-for-5 (.600) from three-point range. Senior
Gabriel Paul (Newark, N.J./Hillside) and junior
Paul Siljee (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) each chipped in 10 tallies. Paul added six rebounds and five assists, while junior
Joey Castro (West Paterson, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) posted five points, six rebounds, four assists and five steals, and sophomore
Rick DeStefano (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro) had seven tallies off the bench.
The Pioneers took a 31-24 lead into the locker room after knocking down 13 of 30 (.433) attempts from the field and limiting the Cardinals to 32.0 (8-25) percent shooting. York, which ended the first period with a 10-3 run, opened the second half by scoring the first four points and cutting the William Paterson advantage to 31-28 (18:05). Siljee answered with a three-pointer to push the margin back to six, but the Cardinals continued to chip away and eventually pulled within one, 41-40, missing a free throw that would have tied the contest with 11:32 to play.
The Pioneers responded, scoring 13 of the next 16 points to surge ahead by a 54-43 count with 6:50 on the clock. But, the home team continued to battle, eventually making it a one-possession game (64-61) with 70 seconds remaining. After a pair of Castro free throws and a miss by York, the Cardinals were fouled and made the first of two from the charity stripe (66-62, 0:29). When Marcel Esonwune missed the second attempt, David Simon came up with the offensive rebound and was fouled. He sank both free throws for a 66-64 score.
York fouled immediately after the inbounds pass, and Castro made the second shot of the double bonus (67-64, 0:27). The Cardinals twice missed from beyond the arc before WP could collect the loose ball. Allan was then fouled, and he drained a pair from the line for the final points of the game with nine seconds remaining.
The Pioneers shot 56.0 (14-25) percent from the floor in the second half, and owned an overall advantage of 21-10 in points scored off turnovers.
William Holley led all scorers with 30 points, adding eight rebounds, two blocked shots and three steals for York. Esonwune chipped in 10 points and 15 rebounds.
The Pioneers will visit Hunter Sunday, Dec. 12, at 1:00 p.m.
