The intensity and pace of play picked up to start the second half, mirroring the postseason atmosphere of the previous meeting between the two programs when William Paterson defeated the Roadrunners, 67-58, to win the 2006 NJAC Tournament title. The Pioneers scored the first seven points of the half to take a one-point lead (38-37, 17:43), and eventually built an 11-point advantage (61-50) with 7:40 remaining in the contest. However, the Roadrunners answered with 12 straight points (61-62, 5:17).
The Pioneers were clinging to a 66-65 lead, but Ramapo’s Ahmad Mosby (Jersey City, N.J./St. Anthony) buried a three-pointer from the right wing at the 1:48 mark (66-68), and Assad Shaakir Newark, N.J./St. Patrick’s) weaved his way to a layup with 1:22 remaining, giving Ramapo a 70-66 lead. Senior Samir Sanu (Edison, N.J./Sayreville) buried a three-pointer with 58 seconds left to make it a one-point game (69-70), but Ramapo’s Antoine Pryor (Elizabeth, N.J./St. Patrick’s) jumper with 22 seconds to play again made it a three-point contest (69-72). Both Sanu and sophomore Tim Lucas (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) had good looks from behind the arc in the final 20 seconds, but neither could find the distance. Following a pair of missed Roadrunner free throws, the Pioneers had one last chance to tie it, but Sanu’s 45-footer hit the iron, ending William Paterson’s hopes for overtime.
The first half featured five ties and five lead changes as both teams battled to establish command of the contest. A seven-point Pioneers lead (16-9, 12:46) turned into a 10-point Roadrunner advantage (25-35, 1:09), and Ramapo took a 37-31 lead into the locker room.
Senior All-American Luis Martinez (Passaic, N.J./Clifton) led the Pioneers with 21 points. Sanu had 14 tallies, junior Joey Spiegel (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) had 12, and junior Da-Shawn Dwight (Newark, N.J./Bloomfield Tech) 10. Lucas added 10 rebounds and seven assists for William Paterson. Shaakir posted a double-double for Ramapo with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
William Paterson is ranked 13th in this week’s d3hoops.com National Top 25 Poll (Jan. 9). They were again playing short-handed, currently without the services of starters John Rother (Sodus Point, N.Y./Sodus Central) and Jason Cameron (Cliffside Park, N.J./Cliffside Park) due to injuries.
The Pioneers will host Baruch Monday, Jan. 15, at 7:00 p.m.