Box Score
WAYNE, N.J. – No. 8 William Paterson (23-2, 12-1 NJAC) wrapped up regular-season play with an 11-point win against visiting New Jersey City (13-12, 5-8 NJAC), 66-55, Feb. 17. Prior to the contest, the Pioneers honored their seven seniors --
Bobby Dunn (Garwood, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson Regional),
Joseph Ellis (Newark, N.J./Newark Science), John Kardos (Norwood, N.J./Old Tappan),
Tim Lucas (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge),
Eric Moore (Dover, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep),
Abdoulaye Ouedraogo (Newark, N.J./Newark Science) and
Manny Perrotte (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway).
William Paterson, the top seed in the North Division, now awaits its opponent for a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament semifinal game to be played at WP Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 7:00 p.m. William Paterson will host the winner of a first-round game featuring No. 3 North seed Ramapo against No. South seed Rowan Saturday, Feb. 20, in Glassboro.
After scoring 12 of the game's first 15 points, William Paterson saw its lead evaporate thanks to a 14-0 Gothic Knight spurt that gave New Jersey City a 17-12 advantage with 8:31 on the clock. Junior Antoine Rogers scored eight points during the spurt, including a pair of three-pointers, to help give NJCU its first lead of the night.
A layup by junior
Gabriel Paul (Hillside, N.J./Hillside), a Dunn jumper and a fast-break dunk by Dunn nudged the Pioneers ahead by one (18-17, 5:27), and following a jumper by Terrence Doctor that momentarily gave NJCU back a one-point lead, the Pioneers finished the half with a 9-0 run that made it a 27-19 game at the half.
The Gothic Knights got within two, 36-34, less than six minutes into the second period, but a Lucas trey ignited a 12-0 WP run (48-34, 10:55), and the Pioneers cruised the rest of the way to pick up the win.
Lucas finished with 20 points, six rebounds, eight assists and five steals to pace William Paterson. Paul compiled a double-double with 12 tallies and 12 boards, and Dunn collected 18 points and three assists.
Senior Josh Lopez led NJCU with 17 points, connecting on five of nine three-pointers. Freshman Walik Albright added eight.
