Box Score GLASSBORO, NJ – The William Paterson University men's basketball team defeated Rowan University, 85-65 in the last game of the regular season on Wednesday.
Guard Terik Bridgeman (sr. Harlem, NY/Nia Prep) led five players in double figures. He recorded a double-double with 21 points and 17 rebounds. Guard Bright Mensah (sr. Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack) followed with 20 points, seven boards and five assists.
Guard Manny Hernandez (sr. Paterson, NJ/Paramus Catholic) contributed with 14 points while forward Richy Espinal (jr. Ridgefield Park, NJ/Ridgefield Park) and guard Galen Smith (jr. Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway Tech) had 12 and 10 points respectively.
The Pioneers are 13-12 overall and 8-10 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Profs finish the year with a 9-16 record and a 6-12 conference mark.
Guard
Kris O'Connor (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Paul VI) was Rowan's top scorer with 21 points and he grabbed seven rebounds. Forward
Gary Carthan (jr. Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown Reg.) produced 12 points and five rebounds off the bench.
It was Senior Night for the Profs. Center
Dan Brogan (sr. Northvale, NJ/Northern Valley Old Tappan), forward
Chris Gross (sr. Cranford, NJ/Roselle Catholic), guard
Darryl Robinson (sr. Franklin, NJ/Franklin) and O'Connor were honored before the game.
William Paterson started the first half with an 11-2 run in 3:08. O'Connor's layup at 10:04 cut the deficit to five (18-13). The Pioneers answered with a 7-0 run to lead 25-13 with 9:06 remaining. Mensah had four points and Bridgeman chipped in with three. At 8:42, Mensah nailed a three-pointer (28-15) for a 13-point lead. The Profs scored 10 straight points and trailed 28-25 at the 3:15 mark. O'Connor registered five points, Carthan hit a three and Gross had a jumper. Hernandez put William Paterson up by nine (36-27) with a three-pointer (1:04). At the break, William Paterson was ahead 39-31. Mensah ended the period with 15 points.
The Pioneers continued to maintain their lead for the second stanza. Bridgeman's layup made the score 53-37 at 15:27. O'Connor got the Profs within 11 (56-45) on a three-pointer (13:46). William Paterson was up 60-47 with 12:46 left, then built a 20-point advantage (68-48) with an 8-1 run that ended at 10:10. O'Connor had a layup and two fouls shots (5:31) and Rowan was down by 15 (76-61). It was the closest the Profs came for the remainder of the game.
