WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson men's basketball team (8-15, 3-13 NJAC) defeated Kean (11-12, 8-8 NJAC), 71-67, in a down-to-the-wire New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game Feb. 11 at the Sports and Recreation Center.  

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A layup by freshman Nahsir Merrick (Bronx, N.Y./Stephenson) with 10:45 left to play in the game gave the Pioneers a 12-point advantage (56-44). However, the Cougars countered with 12 unanswered points to even the score at 56-56 with 7:30 on the clock.
• WP responded with a 9-2 run, going 6-of-7 (.857) from the foul line, to take a seven-point lead (65-58) with 4:38 remaining.
• Kean answered once again, scoring six unanswered points to pull within one (65-64) before burying a shot from deep to go ahead by two with 1:38 left to play.
• Senior Ethan Paul (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) scored from inside the paint with 1:09 on the clock, knotting the score at 67-67, before the Cougars took a timeout.
• Out of the break, Kean turned the ball over and the Pioneers took a timeout of their own before sophomore Jianni Moran (Fair Lawn, N.J./Fair Lawn) found classmate Delani Hyde (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) wide open in the paint for the go-ahead layup with 20 seconds remaining.
• The Pioneers forced a turnover on Kean's ensuing possession and held on for the 71-67 home victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Sophomore Jack Gobel (Weehawken, N.J./Weehawken) scored a team-high 16 points on 5-of-10 (.500) shooting.
• Paul logged 14 points, six rebounds and a game-high five assists.
• Hyde had 13 points, six boards and a pair of assists.
• Moran finished with 10 points, four assists and three rebounds.

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will play host to Rutgers-Camden Wednesday, Feb. 14, for a 3:00 p.m. conference matchup.

 
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