HARTFORD, Conn. – Junior forward
Sean Smith (Moraga, Calif./Campolindo) poured in a team-high 20 points and sophomore guard
Domenic Mignone (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) matched his career-high with 19 tallies, but the University of Saint Joseph (1-0) sank four free throws over the final 1:33 to hold off the William Paterson men's basketball team (1-0) 79-74 in both program's season opener Nov. 9.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- WP hit four of its first five shots to race out to an early 9-3 lead, capped off by Mignone's driving layup. After a pair of successful USJ free throws cut the Blue Jays deficit to two, 27-25, the Pioneers went on a 14-2 run that covered 4:45 en route to a 41-30 halftime advantage.
- Following intermission, the Blue Jays dominated both ends of the floor, using a 31-9 run to stretch its lead to 11, 61-50. WP would respond with its own offensive explosion, as Smith's deep three-pointer punctuated a 20-8 burst that pulled the Pioneers ahead, 70-69.
- Nasir Fields' (Winslow Twp., N.J./Winslow Twp.) layup with 14 seconds left kept it a one-possession affair, but USJ hit a pair of free throws to ice the game and come away with the 79-74 decision.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Smith, who hit a WP record 80 three-pointers last season, finished the night 6-for-12 (.500) from beyond the arc, while his six assists led all players.
- Junior forward Myles McLeod (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) added 14 points and four rebounds in his Pioneer debut, while Fields chipped in six points and a team-leading six rebounds.
- The game was moved to Trinity College's Ray Oosting Gymnasium due to increased media coverage for the coaching return of Hall-of-Famer Jim Calhoun
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson will make its first appearance of the season at the Sports & Recreation Center, hosting Moravian on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 8:00 p.m.
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS: