PATCHOGUE, N.Y. – Saint Simeon Beaubrun (Irvington, N.J./Columbia) scored a season-high 12 points and three other Pioneers posted double-digit scoring outputs as the William Paterson men's basketball team (9-4) held on for a 63-59 non-conference victory over St. Joseph's-Long Island (2-7) Dec. 30.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Trailing 10-9 early in the opening period, Sean Smith's (Moraga, Calif./Campolindo) layup began a 19-1 Pioneer run that stretched nearly six minutes as the visitors opened up a commanding 28-11 lead. The Golden Eagles would orchestrate its own rally, a 16-7 burst, as the Pioneers headed to the locker room with an eight-point advantage, 35-27.
• After chipping away for much of the second stanza, the Golden Eagles would take their first lead of the half, 53-52, when Mike Harris drained a three-pointer with 3:21 remaining. Myles McLeod's (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) steal and fastbreak layup, coupled with a pair of Domenic Mignone (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) free throws restored a six-point Pioneer lead, 59-53. St. Joseph's would make it a three-point game following a deep trifecta from Frank Basile. However, on the ensuing possession, Beaubrun took Mignone's outlet pass and slammed home a dunk that sealed the victory for WP, 63-59.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Smith led the Pioneers in scoring for the ninth time this season by chipping in 14 points. Mignone added 12 tallies while Nasir Fields (Winslow Twp., N.J./Winslow Twp.) grabbed a team-best seven rebounds to go along with 10 points.
• WP committed a season-low 10 turnovers while forcing 16 Golden Eagle miscues which led to 19 points.
• William Paterson dominated in bench points, as the Pioneers reserves outscoring SJC by a 35-13 margin.

UP NEXT:

• WP resumes New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play with a visit to Kean on Saturday, Jan. 5, at 1:00 p.m.

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