Wayne, N.J. (1/29/11) – Senior
Jonathan Jones recorded a career-high 38 points
but it wasn't enough as William Paterson got past the
Cougars, 72-61, in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on
Saturday.
The loss drops the Cougars to 14-6 overall and 6-2 in the NJAC
while the win improves WPU to 12-7 and 4-4 in conference play.
The first half was marred by foul trouble for each team's
leading scorer, as Jones was whistled for his second offensive foul
at the 11:37 mark and William Paterson's Gabriel
Paul picked up his third personal with 6:24 remaining.
Paul was forced to the bench with 2:02 to play in the opening
period when he was called with his fourth foul. Despite the
13 fouls called against WPU they went into the intermission with a
34-26 advantage. William Paterson shot 48.4 (15-31) percent
from the floor during the first 20 minutes, but Kean collected 15
points from the charity stripe to keep within striking
distance.
Kean made it a four-point game at 38-34 with a Jones basket 4:09
into the second stanza, but senior Nick Allan immediately
answered with a jumper, the start of a 9-1 Pioneer run that handed
William Paterson a 47-35 lead with 11:29 to play. Nine points
from Jones (pictured right) helped the Cougars again make it a
two-possession game (49-44, 9:15), but an Allan trey pushed the
Pioneer lead to nine.
On three separate occasions the Cougars got within four points
of the Pioneers, the last coming at 60-56 with 3:20 on the
clock. Junior Paul Siljee's three-pointer was
followed 30 seconds later by an Allan basket pushing William
Paterson ahead by a 65-56 count with 1:30 remaining. The
Cougars were then forced to foul and the Pioneers were 7-for-8
(.875) from the line down the stretch to secure the win.
Jones added 12 rebounds for his 19th double-double of the season
as he still leads all of Division III. Sophomore
Diego Gutierrez added 10 points.
Allan scored 15 of his team-best 22 points during the second
half for William Paterson. Siljee tallied 20 points, adding
12 rebounds and three assists.
Kean continues conference play and will visit The College of New
Jersey on Wednesday, February 2nd at 8 p.m.
