Box Score 

NEWARK, N.J. – No. 8 William Paterson (22-2, 11-1 NJAC) saw its school-record 20-game win streak come to an end and suffered its first loss in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play, falling to host Rutgers-Newark (18-6, 8-4 NJAC), 55-46, Feb. 15.

The Pioneers surged ahead by an early 12-6 count after an Eric Moore (Dover, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) three-pointer (11:42), but the Scarlet Raiders answered with an 8-2 run capped by a James Johnson trey to forge a 14-14 tie with 9:42 remaining. Later knotted at 21-21 with 3:33 left, Johnson started a mini 6-0 spurt with a pair of free throws, and Rutgers-Newark entered the locker room with a 27-23 advantage.

Senior Joseph Ellis (Newark, N.J./Newark Science) knocked down a jump shot to start the second-half scoring and get William Paterson within a possession (27-25, 19:49), but a Johnson transition bucket, two WP turnovers and a De'Vion Manning three-pointer handed the Raiders a 32-25 advantage less than two minutes into the period.

Trailing by seven (38-31, 14:57), the Pioneers staged a comeback. Ellis drained a pair of free throws, and following two scoreless minutes that saw the teams combine for two misses and four turnovers, Moore converted a fast-break layup to make it a 38-35 game with 11:39 on the clock. An Abdoulaye Ouedraogo (Newark, N.J./Newark Science) jumper and another Moore layup gave William Paterson its first lead since midway through the first half, nudging the Pioneers ahead by a 39-38 count at the 9:31 mark. However, Rutgers-Newark reeled off eight unanswered points, including a pair of three-pointers from Johnson, to reclaim the lead (46-39, 7:21). The Scarlet Raiders' advantage did not dwindle to less than four points the rest of the way.

Johnson was 7-for-15 (.467) overall and 4-for-9 (.444) from beyond the arc for a game-high 25 points. Tim Smith added 10 tallies and seven rebounds, and Phil Barnes also collected seven boards for Rutgers-Newark.

Moore led the Pioneers with 12 points. Ouedraogo had 11 tallies and nine rebounds, and senior Tim Lucas (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) added eight points and five assists.

William Paterson owned slight advantages in rebounding (34-31) and field-goal percentage (.400 to .385), but the 22 turnovers were one shy of matching WP's season high. The 46 points were a season low for the Pioneers.

William Paterson will celebrate Senior Night and finish its regular-season slate Wednesday, Feb. 17, against New Jersey City 8:00 p.m.