Box Score Video Highlights

WAYNE, N.J. – After rallying from double-digit deficits during both the first and second halves, the William Paterson men's basketball team (11-3, 6-2 NJAC) fell just short in overtime, 99-96, against visiting Ramapo (6-8, 3-4 NJAC) Jan. 15.

The Roadrunners rode the early hot hand of junior forward/center Loren Jackson, who scored eight quick points to help Ramapo establish a 21-11 edge less than eight minutes into the contest. Senior guard Javae King-Gilchrist (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) started a 16-3 burst with his layup, and the Pioneers found themselves with a 27-24 lead 7:44 before halftime.

Two Jackson free throws tied the score at 31-31 two minutes later, and the Roadrunners entered the break with a 46-44 edge after shooting 65.5 (19-29) percent from the floor during the game's opening 20 minutes.

WP couldn't find its footing to start the second period, allowing Ramapo to build a 67-53 lead by the 13:00 mark. The Pioneers finally responded with a 19-6 run that was capped by King-Gilchrist's two free throws, and trailed by just one at 73-72 with 5:10 remaining in regulation.

Ramapo extended it back to a two-possession game for most of the next three minutes until King-Gilchrist again knocked down a pair from the charity stripe (85-84, 1:56), but sophomore forward Frank Nock converted a three-point play during the Roadrunners' next possession (88-84, 1:28).

Junior guard Jaques Conceicao's (Massama-Lisboa, Portugal/Francais Charle Lepierre) layup 19 seconds later made it an 88-86 game, and his block on the other end resulted in a defensive rebound for junior guard Sandy Burgos (Fort Lee, N.J./Fort Lee) and a fast-break opportunity that freshman forward Nick Smith (Elmwood Park, N.J./Memorial) couldn't finish. But, the rebound went out of bounds and stayed with the Pioneers, and Burgos was later fouled with 13.5 seconds left. He made both, evening the contest at 88-88, and a pass out of bounds by Ramapo's George Sapp gave WP one last chance for the victory in regulation. With 3.9 seconds to play, freshman Richy Espinal's (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) inbounds pass was intercepted near midcourt, but Nock's hurried three-pointer from the right wing fell well short just before the buzzer sounded.

Four times WP held a two-point advantage to start the overtime session, but when Nock was able to hit an off-balance jumper from outside the left elbow and was fouled, his three-point play handed Ramapo a 97-96 edge with 16.0 seconds on the clock.

After calling its final timeout, William Paterson inbounded the ball with 8.9 seconds remaining. King-Gilchrist drifted towards the left corner and elevated to send the pass to Burgos in the corner, but Nock stepped in and intercepted the ball. He was fouled and made two free throws (99-96, 5.2 seconds), allowing the Pioneers one last chance for the tying basket. King-Gilchrist got a good look and clean attempt from the right corner, but his shot hit the rim and skipped long as time expired.

King-Gilchrist led William Paterson with 34 points and eight assists, and Burgos and sophomore guard Bright Mensah (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) each posted 18 tallies. Conceicao finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots.

Nock scored a game-high 35 points for Ramapo. Jackson collected 23 tallies and 11 rebounds.

The Roadrunners finished with a 58.1 (36-62) field-goal percentage, including a 7-for-17 (.412) effort from behind the arc, but the Pioneers went 26-for-32 (.813) from the free-throw line compared to Ramapo's 20-for-29 (.690) effort. WP, tied for first place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), has seen its three losses so far this season come by a total of seven points, and two have been in overtime.

William Paterson will visit Rutgers-Camden Saturday, Jan. 18, at 3:00 p.m.

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