New Jersey City University Athletics

BOX SCORE

AUDIO: ARCHIVED GAME BROADCAST

 

 

WAYNE, NJ…William Paterson University shot 70.8 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from three-point range in the first half to gain a 19-point lead, and although New Jersey City University outscored the Pioneers in the second half with record-setting free throw shooting, it couldn’t overcome the early deficit, as WPU snapped NJCU’s 15-game New Jersey Athletic Conference regular season winning streak, 77-69, in an NJAC North Division game on Saturday at the Rec Center.

 

In a battle of the lone unbeaten teams remaining in the conference standings, WPU improves to 12-3 overall and 4-0 in the league, winning its fourth straight outing. NJCU falls to 11-5 and 4-1 NJAC. For the Gothic Knights, who went 11-2 in the league last year, the loss was NJCU’s first NJAC setback since a 77-72 loss at Rutgers-Newark on December 6, 2006. The loss also snapped NJCU’s three-game winning streak.

 

NJCU lost despite shooting 87.0 percent from the foul line (20-23), including 18-of-20 (90.0 percent) in the second half. It is the highest recorded single-game team free throw percentage in a game with at least 15 attempts in school history.

 

WPU was led by senior guard Jason Cameron (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside) who matched his career-high with 22 points, as he shot 8-of-11 from the field and 6-of-9 from three-point range. His 17 first half points and sharp shooting (6-7 FG; 5-6 3FG) was largely the difference in the game.

 

The Pioneers also received a double-double of 15 points (5-8 FG), 13 rebounds (nine defensive) and three blocks from sophomore forward Abdoulaye Ouedraogo (Newark, NJ/Science). Senior guard Seve Cousins (Haledon, NJ/St. Joseph’s Regional) had eight points, four assists and three steals and senior guard Joey Spiegel (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) contributed seven points and six assists. Freshman guard Gabriel Paul (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) had eight points and five boards before fouling out.

 

For the second straight game, senior center MARQUES HILL (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) led NJCU in scoring, finishing with 14 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting. Junior All-America guard DANA JOHN (Hillside, NJ/Pocono Mountain East (Pa.)) added 13 points (4-15 FG; 1-7 3FG), five rebounds and four assists, increasing his career scoring total to 1,123, 19^th in school history.

 

Freshman power forward JEFFERSON MWANGO (Cherry Hill, NJ/Perth Amboy) had a career-high 12 points (4-7 FG; 4-4 FT) in only 13 minutes of reserve action, and matched his career high with seven rebounds. Sophomore point guard JOSH LOPEZ (Jersey City, NJ/St. Mary’s) and freshman forward DEREK MILLER (Newark, NJ/East Side) each had eight points; Lopez shot 2-of-5 from three-point territory.

 

NJCU led only once—on the opening possession of the game. Two Cameron threes, and a three and lay-up by Paul helped WPU move in front 15-8. A Hill three with 11:51 left drew NJCU within one (17-16), but that was as close as the Knights would get.

 

WPU uncorked a 12-0 run over the next 4:04, shooting 5-for-5 during the spurt, for a 29-16 lead. That streak grew to 21-2, as sophomore guard Al-Basser Holloway (Union, NJ/Newark-East Side) and Cameron hit back-to-back threes in 25 seconds, to build a 36-18 margin with 6:30 left in the half. WPU’s largest lead was 19 (46-27) with 32 seconds remaining in the period. WPU led 46-29 at the break.

 

While NJCU outscored the Pioneers in the second half, 40-31, and limited WPU to .333 shooting (8-24), the lead proved to be insurmountable. WPU finished shooting 52.1 percent overall (25-48) and 52.9 percent from three-point range (9-17). NJCU was .386 from the field (22-57) and .238 from deep (5-21).

 

NJCU was able to cut the deficit to eight points on three occasions in the second half, including the final score, but each of the previous two comeback bids were thwarted. A jumper by Miller made it 56-48 with 11:17 remaining, but WPU moved back in front by 15 (71-56) with 6:16 left, before prevailing by eight.

 

NJCU returns to action on Wednesday, January 23 at 8 p.m. when it hosts Montclair State University in an NJAC North Division game in Jersey City, NJ.