Men's Basketball Falls to WPU, 56-41 

UNION, N.J. (1/09/10) - Senior forward Akinwande Oshodi (Florence, N.J.) scored a game-high 14 points, however the Kean University men's basketball team fell to William Paterson University, 56-41, in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon. 

The NJAC North Division leading Pioneers (13-1, 3-0 NJAC) were led by senior guard Joseph Ellis (Newark, N.J.), who finished with 13 points and three steals. 

Senior guard Vinnie Darpino (Colonia, N.J.) added 11 points for the Cougars (4-9, 1-3 NJAC).

In a low-scoring first-half, the Pioneers used a 13-1 run to take the lead for good and build a 22-11 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the half.  A three-pointer by senior guard Eugene Tolliver (East Orange, N.J.) ended the Pioneer run and pulled the Cougars back to within single-digits, however WPU closed the half scoring the final seven points to build their largest lead at 15 points, 29-14, at the break.

Ellis led the Pioneers with seven points in the first half, while Oshodi (pictured right) and Tolliver each had five points apiece for Kean.

After Oshodi opened the second half with a jumper for Kean, the Pioneers extended the lead out to 17 points at 37-20, on a jumper by senior guard Bobby Dunn (Garwood, N.J.) with 13:15 remaining.  Oshodi would pull the Cougars back to within single digits at 48-39 on a pair of free throws with 4:56 to go, however WPU responded with eight unanswered points to extend the lead back to 17 points to seal the victory.

In the win, junior guard Gabriel Paul (Hillside, N.J.) and senior guard Eric Moore (Dover, N.J.) each finished with 11 points for the Pioneers.

For Kean, junior forward Jonathan Jones (Linden, N.J.) grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, while Oshodi added six boards. 

The Cougars return to action on Wednesday, January 13, when they travel to Richard Stockton College.  Game-time is set for 8 p.m.