News Release

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — MARTINEZ, DOGGED DEFENSE LEAD WILLIAM PATERSON MEN INTO ELITE 8, 52-45

(March 10, 2006) - Junior forward Luis Martinez (Passaic, NJ/Clifton) netted a game-high 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds as William Paterson moved into the Elite 8 of the 2006 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship by defeating Widener, 52-45, at The Batten Center on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan College on Friday evening.

William Paterson (23-7) reached Elite 8 for the fifth time in school history and will play the winner of Friday night's Sweet 16 matchup between Lincoln and Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Pioneers are 2-2 in Elite 8 games, but 2-0 under head coach Jose Rebimbas, the program's 11th-year coach who has led them into the national quarterfinals in 1999, 2001 and now 2006.

The Pioneers were national runners-up in 2001 and finished fourth in Division III in 1999.

William Paterson's season was extended another game primarily because of Martinez' continued postseason excellence and the typically staunch defense the team plays. Martinez scored 12 of his 13 points during a decisive 19-11 spurt to start the second half as the Pioneers turned a 26-21 halftime lead into a 45-32 lead with 4:15 remaining. He produced his points off a variety shots such as a couple of baby hooks, a couple of drives, a short jumper and two free throws.

"I just like I needed to score," said Martinez, who is averaging 21.0 points and 7.7 rebounds in the first three rounds of the NCAA tourney. "I felt like I needed to put the ball in the basket or someone needed to put the ball in the basket. I started posting up and I knew I could score."

"We earmarked Luis Martinez to be our best player because of his versatility," Rebimbas said. "He makes his teammates better."

Meanwhile, Widener (23-6) went 8:38 without a field goal in the second half, ending its drought when senior guard Brandon Blakey (Willow Grove, PA/Abington) coverted a lay-up off a dribble drive. Widener shot just 31.8 percent from the game (14-for-44), including 27.3 percent in the second half (6-for-22) despite averaging 71.6 points and shooting 46.4 percent from the floor entering the Sweet 16.

Then again, William Paterson is 16th nationally in scoring defense (39.3) and 23rd in scoring defense (62.6 ppg) and has its first three opponents to an average of 46.0 points while not permitting any of them to shoot above 35.0 percent.

Senior forward Kris Clarkson (Philadelphia, PA/Overbrook) recorded a double-double with 11 points and 14 points for Widener, but his point total was almost 10 points below his average. Junior forward Malcolm Thomas (Baltimore, MD/Pikesville) led the losing team with 13 points and junior guard Essien Ford (Baltimore, MD/Loyola Blakefield) added 10.

"We feel like if we can impose our will on the defensive end, it will give us a chance to be successful," Rebimbas said.

"These are the final 16 teams," sophomore guard Jason Cameron (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) said. "Defensive is all about heart. You don't have to be good to play good defense."

The Pioneers never trailed in this contest, starting off by scoring 12 of the game's first 14 points. Cameron buried two 3-pointers to spark the surge. Widener pulled within four points on three occasions, but after getting within 28-24 on a three-point play by Clarkson at the start of the second half, the Martinez and the Pioneers controlled things.