Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The William Paterson University men’s basketball team edged Rowan University, 51-48 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday afternoon.
Rowan held a 48-45 advantage with 3:54 remaining in the second period. Guard Bright Mensah (fr. Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack) had a layup (3:32) and two foul shots (1:05) to give William Paterson at one point lead (49-48). Guard Rick DeStefano (sr. Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) sunk two free throws with 12 seconds left.
The Pioneers improve to 5-5 overall and 3-3 in the conference. The Profs have a 9-2 record with a 4-2 NJAC mark. Forward Lance Brown (sr. Teaneck, NJ/Paterson Catholic) led William Paterson with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Mensah totaled 10 points and a game-high 13 boards. Forward Terik Bridgeman (fr. Harlem, NY/Nia Prep) pulled down 10 rebounds. DeStefano contributed with eight points.
For Rowan, forward Brendan Cox (sr. Lindenwold, NJ/Highland Reg.) compiled 12 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots. Guard Kendall White (sr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) added 10 points and guard Rich McNamara’s (jr. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) chipped in with nine.
Mensah’s two foul shots at 17:25 in the first period tied the game at five. White (16:46) and McNamara (16:06) hit back-to-back three-pointers to go up by six (11-5). The Profs were ahead, 13-10 after a layup by center Dee Benson (sr. Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) at 14:02. The Pioneers went on a 9-0 run for a six point advantage (19-13) at 10:32. Guard Julio Rosario (sr. Perth Amboy, NJ/Cardinal McCarrick) registered four points, DeStefano made a three and Brown had two.
Guard Phil Jackson’s (jr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) layup at 6:31 brought Rowan within two (19-17). Bridgeman (6:07), Mensah (5:43) and Brown (4:55) each had a basket and the score was 25-17. At 4:10, Brown had a layup and the Profs were down by eight (27-19). The Profs had a 9-0 surge to pull ahead by one (28-27) with 1:56 left. Cox recorded five of the nine points. With 1:14 remaining, guard Jaques Conceicao (so. Massama-Lisboa, Portugal/Francais Charle Lepierre) had a layup to put the Pioneers on top, 29-28 at the intermission. Cox tallied 10 points in the first half and Brown had nine.
A three-pointer by Brown (19:11) and a jumper by Mensah (18:33) extended the advantage to six (34-28) at 18:33 in the second stanza. Rowan followed with a 6-0 run to tie the game at 34 with 15:36 on the clock. White scored three points, McNamara had two and Benson added one. Guard Fred Battee (sr. Westville, NJ/Deptford) connected on a three-pointer at 11:16 and the Profs led, 42-38. Brown nailed a jumper at 5:11 and the Pioneers trailed by one (46-45). Guard Jason Rosenberg (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) had a layup with 3:54 left to play that pushed the advantage to three (48-45).
Rowan travels to nonconference opponent Neumann University on Thursday, December 20 at 8 p.m.
