JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | William Paterson University knocked down 19 three-point field goals, including 11 in the second half to break open a one-point halftime margin and upset the New Jersey City University men's basketball team, 89-71 in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on December 4 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
William Paterson shot 11-of-16 from three-point distance in the second half—68.75 percent—and a staggering 19-for-31 overall, connecting on 61.3 percent from long distance. The 19 made threes by the Pioneers (4-2, 1-1 NJAC) are the most by an opponent against NJCU (3-3, 1-1 NJAC) on record in school history.
 
After going 43-6 at home in the last four seasons, NJCU has uncharacteristically fallen to 2-3 at home in the first five games of the season.
 
William Paterson led by just one at halftime but outscored NJCU 53-36 in the second half. WP shot 56.3 percent overall from the field in the second half (18-32) and 51.6 percent overall on the night (32-62).
 
Three players carried most of the offensive workload, combining for 77 points—six more than NJCU as a team. The Pioneers received an insane effort from senior forward Sean Smith (Moraga, Calif.), who scored 36 points on 11-of-17 shooting, including 10-of-14 three-point prowess, while converting 4-of-5 from the line with six assists.
 
Junior guard Domenic Mignone (Rutherford, N.J.) added 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting, and made 3-of-4 from three-point distance with five assists. Junior forward Malcolm McLeod (Teaneck, N.J.) had 17 points (6-10 FG, 4-6 3FG).
 
In defeat, junior shooting guard Denzel Banks (Newark, NJ/East Orange Campus) scored 20 or more for the fourth consecutive game, leading the Knights with 21 points (6-14 FG). Junior power forward Jahmere Calhoun (Manchester, NJ/Brick Memorial) started for the first time and registered a double-double of 12 rebounds and 10 points (5-11 FG) with two steals. Senior power forward and First-Team All-American Sam Toney (Plainfield, NJ/Williamstown) only got eight shots off, finishing with 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists. NJCU shot 24-of-63 overall (.381) and 21.1 percent from three-point range (4-19 FG).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• NJCU started three different starters compared to its opening-day roster. Junior Adonius Melvins, Jr. got his first start at point guard, senior shooting guard Jeff Haddock Jr. (Las Vegas, NV/Willingboro (NJ)) getting his second straight start for injured Jaimik Moore (Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack) and Calhoun was in the lineup for the first time.
• NJCU opened up an early 8-2 lead. A pullup jumper by Banks pushed the early lead to 10-2. After WP hit a three, Banks drilled one from the right arc coming down the floor to make it 13-5. WP answered with back-to-back threes by McLeod and Mignone and cut the deficit to 13-11. A third straight three, this time by Smith, put WP on top for the first time, 14-13. A floater in the lane pushed the run to 14-3.
• Quadri Moore (Linden, NJ/Linden), who did not start, came in and had a follow tip-in layup to pull NJCU within one.
• WPU extended the run to 21-5 and the lead to 23-15 as junior guard Justin Lingat (Toms River, N.J.) hit WP's fifth three of the half (5-9) and Mignone followed with a jumper. Sophomore shooting guard Kayton Darley (West New York, NJ/North Bergen) hit a three to calm the run before McLeod hit another trey for the Pioneers with 8:30 left. A three-point play by Banks (10th point) cut it to 26-21 as he had nearly half of NJCU's points in the first 12 minutes.
• NJCU battled back within one (28-27) before Smith buried the team's seventh triple of the half (7-12).
• With 4:10 left, Darley tied the game (31-31) with two from the line. WP led by one at halftime (36-35), shooting 8-of-15 from three-point range.
• WP came out and scored the first eight points of the second half (44-35) and a three by Smith with 18:09 left capped the run (47-37) at 11-2.
• Smith hit back-to-back threes for WP to elevate the lead to 14, 62-48, with 13:53 left—his 26th point on 9-of-11 shooting and 8-of-9 three-point success to that point. 
• WP's 14th three of the game (Lingat) made the lead 67-54. A 15th three, an NBA-range three by Mignone (70-54) gave WP a 16-point lead with 12:07 left. Mignone hit another stepback three moments later (72-58) as the Pioneers were 16-of-25 (64.0 percent) from three-point land. McLeod buried a three from the corner (75-60, 9:59) and pulled away, knocking down two more triples in the half.

 
NOTABLES:

• Series: 155th known meeting between these historic rivals. NJCU currently leads the series, 83-72.
• Banks scored in double figures for the 19th time in 34 career games and netted his eighth 20-point effort. 
• Toney upped his career scoring totals to 1,450 points. He needs eight more points to pass Hall-of-Famer and assistant coach Abdul Madison (1,457 points, 1993-97) for the Top 10 in school history. Toney scored in double figures for the 71st time in 90 career games. 

 
UP NEXT:
 

• NJCU hopes the third time will be the charm to give 13th-year head coach Marc Brown his milestone 200th career win when it faced Rowan University on Saturday, December 7 at 3 p.m. in Glassboro, N.J. It will be the first meeting between the schools since Rowan shocked NJCU in the final seconds to win the NJAC championship in Jersey City on February 22, 2019.

 
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