WAYNE, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Tied at 34-34 at halftime, New Jersey City University shot just 22.2 percent in the second half while host William Paterson University hit 52.9 percent in the period and utilized a 13-0 momentum-seizing run to chalk up a 65-52 New Jersey Athletic Conference men's basketball win over the Gothic Knights on December 3 at the Rec Center.
 
NJCU (2-4, 1-2 NJAC), didn't shoot well in the first half (.348, 10-29), but struggled more in the second half when it made just 6-of-27 shots to fall out of what had been a competitive game. The Knights made 3-of-18 from three-point distance (.167) and had its most success at the line (.773, 17-22).
 William Paterson improved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the NJAC where it sits atop the early-season standings. It was the Pioneers' fourth straight win.
 
Senior shooting guard Jamall McDaniel (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln)  was the lone Gothic Knight in double figures in scoring, finishing with 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting (4-for-4 FT) in 12 minutes off the bench. He tallied eight in the first half in just seven minutes.
 
Senior small forward Neville Joseph (Newark, NJ/West Side) had eight points (2-8 FG). Senior center Eddie Brown (Newark, NJ/Newark East Side) finished with seven boards, six points (3-5 FG) and two steals.
 
All-NJAC guard Sandy Burgos led all players with 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting for WP, adding three steals and two assists in 37 minutes. He connected on three of his six three-point tries and was 6-for-6 at the line.
 
Bright Mensah contributed 11 points (5-7 FG) and three steals while Terik Bridgeman tallied 10 points (2-8 FG), five rebounds and four blocks.
 
NJCU scored the first six points of the game in a back-and-forth opening period in which neither side could gain an advantage and were tied five times.
 
Even at 36-36 with 16:18 remaining, the Pioneers notched a 13-0 run over a span of 5:07 to seize control of the contest. A triple by Burgos—who scored seven during the run, including the final five points—made it a 13-point, 49-36 differential with 11:42 to play. The Pioneers led by double figures the remainder of the night.
 
OF NOTE:

• 143^rd known meeting. NJCU leads the all-time series, 76-67.
• Khalid Muhammad has 817 career points. He failed to reach double figures in scoring for only the 15^th time in 61 career games (46 games in double figures). He shot 1-of-8 from the field.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
On Saturday, December 6, NJCU hosts Rowan University (5-1, 2-1 NJAC, won 2) at 4 p.m. at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. It will be the 115^th known meeting (numerous unknown results prior to 1956), of which Rowan has a 58-56 series lead. NJCU won the last meeting in Jersey City, 65-56, on January 25, 2014.