WAYNE, NJ…Junior guard Feron McGee (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) scored a game-high 23 points on 10-of-11 shooting, and added four steals and three assists as William Paterson University ended a three-game losing streak against New Jersey City University, and defeated the Gothic Knights, 77-64, in a non-conference men’s basketball game at the Rec Center. Both teams are 2-1 on the season.
Also for the Pioneers, junior forward Miguel Rodriguez (Passaic, NJ/Passaic) grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, with eight points and three steals, and junior center Nick Torres (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) contributed 10 points.
Sophomore forward ABRAHAM WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) led the Gothic Knights with 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting, and added five rebounds. For the third consecutive game to begin the season, sophomore forward DEVIN DAVIS (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Regional) recorded a double-double, as he notched 10 points (4-of-10 FG) and 10 rebounds (six defensive), while rejecting four shots.
Senior guard JAVIER RODRIGUEZ (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) poured in 14 points in the loss, and swiped five steals. Freshman point guard RAJAHN JONES (Roselle, NJ/Pocono Mountain (PA)) had five assists.
The score remained close throughout most of the first half, including a 16-14 WPU margin with 12:01 remaining in the period. A 6-0 run made it 22-14. WPU never trailed in the game, and finished the half on another 6-0 spurt to pull in front by 10 at the break, 37-27. The Pioneers twice owned a 24-point advantage in the second half.
WPU shot 46.8 percent from the field (29-of-62) and outrebounded its opponents, 43-31. NJCU shot 37.5 percent from the floor (18-of-48).
NJCU returns to action on Monday, November 29 at 7pm against Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA. It will be the first-ever meeting between the clubs in men’s basketball.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
