Box Score

WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (12-7, 4-4 NJAC) picked up a key New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) men's basketball victory with a 72-61 triumph against visiting Kean (14-6, 6-2 NJAC) Jan. 29. The win helped the Pioneers keep pace in the race for a top-three finish in the NJAC's North Division while handing the South-leading Cougars just their second league loss of the season.  Just five conference regular-season games remain, and the top three teams in each division will qualify for the NJAC Tournament.

Senior guard Nick Allan (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) scored 15 of his team-best 22 points during the second half for William Paterson. Junior Paul Siljee (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) was 6-for-10 (.600) overall and 5-for-9 (.556) from three-point range for 20 points, adding 12 rebounds and three assists. Senior forward Shaun Canty (Carlstadt, N.J./Paramus Catholic) knocked down five of his six (.833) attempts from the field for 10 points off the bench.

The first half was marred by foul trouble for each team's leading scorer, as Kean's Jonathan Jones was whistled for his second offensive foul at the 11:37 mark, and William Paterson's Gabriel Paul (Newark, N.J./Hillside) picked up his third personal with 6:24 remaining. Paul was forced to the bench with 2:02 to play in the opening period when his block attempt of a Jones shot was called a foul, his fourth. Despite the 13 personal fouls called against WP, the Pioneers led by as many as 13 (21-8, 10:27), and went into the intermission with a 34-26 advantage. William Paterson shot 48.4 (15-31) percent from the floor during the first 20 minutes, but Kean's 15-for-20 (.750) shooting from the charity stripe helped to keep the Cougars within striking distance.

Kean made it a four-point game at 38-34 with a Jones basket in the paint 4:09 into the second stanza, but Allan immediately answered with a jumper, the start of a 9-1 Pioneer run that handed William Paterson a 47-35 lead with 11:29 to play. Nine points from Jones helped the Cougars again make it a two-possession game (49-44, 9:15), but an Allan trey from the right corner helped to stem the onslaught (53-44, 8:23).

Kean three times got within four points of the Pioneers, the last coming at 60-56 with 3:20 on the clock. Siljee's three-pointer from the left wing was followed 30 seconds later by an Allan basket on the baseline off an inbounds pass, pushing William Paterson ahead by a 65-56 count with 1:30 remaining, and the Pioneers were 7-for-8 (.875) from the line down the stretch to secure the win.

Jones led all players with 38 points, including 12-for-18 (.667) shooting from the free-throw line. He added 12 rebounds for his 19th double-double of the season (first in Division III). Sophomore Diego Gutierrez added 10 points for the Cougars.

Paul scored nine points for William Paterson, playing 11 minutes of the second half before fouling out at the 3:10 mark.

William Paterson will visit John Jay Monday, Jan. 31, at 7:00 p.m.