Box Score WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson shot an incredible 66.7% from the field and beyond the arc in the first half on its way to a 95-61 win over Rutgers University-Newark in a key New Jersey Athletic Conference game in the WPU Rec Center.
Senior swingman
Christian Garcia netted 10 of his team-high 19 points in the second half, but the Scarlet Raiders (15-7, NJAC 9-6) could not erase a 62-25 halftime deficit to the Pioneers (18-3, NJAC 12-2) who vaulted into sole possession of the conference lead.
Garcia, who added five rebounds, was the only Raider in double figures, but all 11 players used by head coach
Joe Loughran scored in the contest. Junior forward
Jordan McDaniel had eight points and three rebounds while junior guard
Vik Singh came off the bench for seven points. Senior center
Elvis Hodzic contributed six points, five rebounds and two blocked shots for the Raiders.
In a surreal opening half, the Pioneers gunned in 10 of 15 shots from long range and 22 of 33 shots overall while making all eight of their free throws to stun the visitors. Senior guard Sandy Burgos poured in 22 of his game-high 32 points by making three of six 3-pointers, six of nine shots overall and seven free throws. Senior guard Jaques Conceicao hit four of five shots from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes to score 17 of his 19 points.
The Raiders entered the game giving up just 61.3 points per game.
Rutgers-Newark will be in sole possession of third place or tied for third in the 10-team league with The College of New Jersey (12-9, NJAC 8-6) pending the Lion's outcome in a conference battle against New Jersey City (8-11, NJAC 6-7) tonight. The loss prevented the Raiders from clinching an NJAC Championship Tournament berth with three games left on the regular-season slate.
The win gave the Pioneers a sweep of the regular-season series between the teams and put WPU in position to claim the NJAC regular-season title. Ramapo (13-9, NJAC 7-8) upended Richard Stockton (18-4, NJAC 12-3), 52-46, today in Mahwah to give WPU a half-game edge in the league standings.
Rutgers-Newark hosts Rutgers University-Camden in an NJAC doubleheader in The Golden Dome Arena Wednesday night. The women's game tips off at 6 with the men to follow at 8.
