Box Score WAYNE, NJ  – The William Paterson University men's basketball team won 86-83 in overtime against Rowan University on Wednesday night.
 
With 16 seconds left in regulation, Rowan guard Rob DePersia (fr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) had a layup that tied the score at 73 and sent the game into overtime.  William Paterson went ahead 76-73 at 3:28 in the extra period.  Guard Kris O'Connor (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Paul VI) made a layup (2:33) and DePersia followed with a basket (1:57), which knotted the score (79-79).  The Pioneers led by three (84-81) after a three-pointer by guard Manny Hernandez (sr. Paterson, NJ/Paramus Catholic) at the 59 second mark.  Forward Chris Gross (sr. Cranford, NJ/Roselle Catholic) scored with a layup (0:45) and Rowan trailed 84-83. 
 
William Paterson sealed the victory with foul shots by guard Joseph Taylor (jr. Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) (0:34) and guard Bright Mensah (sr. Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack) (0:22).  The Pioneers are 8-7 overall and 3-5 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).  Rowan has a 6-9 record with a 3-5 conference mark.
 
Forward Richy Espinal (jr. Ridgefield Park, NJ/Ridgefield Park) scored a game-high 26 points.  He also grabbed eight rebounds.  Mensah recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards.  Hernandez totaled 16 points and seven rebounds.  Taylor chipped in with 13 points, six boards, six assists and five steals.  
 
The Profs had five players in double figures.  O'Connor produced 25 points, seven rebounds and five steals.  DePersia contributed with 12 points, seven assists and five rebounds.  Guard Josh Borrelli (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) and Gross each registered 11 points while forward Shawn Wilson (jr. Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) had 10.
 
In the second stanza, Espinal's jumper gave William Paterson a seven-point advantage (47-40) at 15:39.  O'Connor sank a three (14:51) and center Dan Brogan (sr. Northvale, NJ/Northern Valley Old Tappan) had a layup (14:10), which made the score 47-45.  Forward Gary Carthan (jr. Bordentown, NJBordentown Reg.) cut the deficit to one (50-49) with a layup (12:12) after a steal by O'Connor.  Taylor put the Pioneers up by seven (58-51) with a jumper at 10:09. 
 
Rowan scored six straight points to pull within one (58-57) with 7:29 remaining.  O'Connor, Carthan and DePersia each had a basket.  Borrelli nailed a three-pointer (5:37) and the Profs took the lead 62-61.  Taylor and Espinal hit back-to-back threes to go ahead 67-62 at 4:50. 
 
Hernandez's jumper (2:11) gave the Pioneers a seven-point advantage (71-64).  O'Connor had two points at the line (1:35) and Borrelli drained a three (0:44) to tie the score at 71.  Espinal had a jump shot (0:27) before DePersia's tying layup with 16 seconds left. 
 
William Paterson had a 10-point lead three times in the first half.  The score was 23-13 with 9:39 remaining.  Rowan trailed by six (23-17) at 8:40 after O'Connor's layup. Borrelli scored a three-pointer and the Profs were down by four points (26-22).  Mensah made a foul shot (5:10) and the Pioneers were ahead 32-24.  Espinal's three with 3:46 on the clock gave William Paterson a nine-point advantage (35-26).  With 2:10 remaining, the Pioneers led 37-29.  Carthan had a layup (1:40) and guard Nick DePersia (fr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) followed with a free throw (0:45).  Rowan was down by five points (37-32).  Forward Fredrik Hagbarth (jr. Stockholm, Sweden/Kungsholmens Gymnasium) had a foul shot and William Paterson led at the break 38-32.
 
Next, Rowan plays at home on Saturday, Jan. 16 against Rutgers-Newark at 3 p.m.