VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS https://youtu.be/O-C_GBXO5bo

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson men's basketball team (1-0) opened its 2023-24 campaign with a 70-66 victory over Brooklyn (0-1) Nov. 8 at the Sports and Recreation Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The two sides sat knotted at 59 apiece with 4:30 remaining in the game after graduate student MJ Moncrieffe (Maplewood, N.J./Marist) scored on a layup for the Pioneers. The Bulldogs responded by scoring on back-to-back possessions to grab a five-point advantage (64-59).
• However, William Paterson closed out the final 3:20 of action on a 10-2 run to secure the season-opening home win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Moncrieffe made his WP debut and scored a team-high 20 points on 9-of-12 (.750) shooting with a team-best eight rebounds and five steals.
• Senior Shawn Summers Jr. (Montclair, N.J./Montclair) logged 17 in the scoring column after shooting 6-of-12 (.500) from the floor.
• Senior Tyreek Montgomery (Neptune, N.J./Admiral Farragut) poured in 13 points while recording seven rebounds and four steals.
• Junior Neftali Valentin (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) tallied 11 points.
• WP won its third consecutive season opener.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson heads to Westfield, Mass., for the two-day Westfield State Tournament Nov. 10-11. The Pioneers square off against host Westfield State Friday, Nov. 10, at 5:30 p.m. before taking on Western Connecticut State the following day at 2:00 p.m.

 
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:

• http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia