WAYNE, N.J. – Senior guards Turell McClendon (Newark, N.J./Piscataway Tech) and Zach Frick (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) each scored 19 points as the William Paterson men's basketball team (1-0) pulled away during the second half for an 82-67 season-opening victory against Brooklyn (0-1) Nov. 15 at the Rec Center.

The Pioneers owned a 37-34 halftime lead, but a 10-2 Bulldog run resulted in a 44-43 Brooklyn lead with 14:26 to play. Four Frick three-pointers during the next five minutes helped to push WP ahead by a 59-51 count with 9:15 on the clock, and a McClendon trey made it an 11-point advantage at the 7:03 mark. William Paterson's lead never dipped below double digits for the remainder of the contest as the Pioneers shot 50.0 (6-12) percent from beyond the arc during the game's final 20 minutes.

McClendon was 7-for-11 (.636) from the field while pulling down 10 rebounds, and Frick converted five of his seven (.714) three-point attempts. Senior forward Richy Espinal (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) posted eight tallies, five assists and a team-high 11 rebounds, three blocked shots and three steals, while senior guard Galen Smith (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway Tech) added 11 points and five assists.

WP jumped out to a 6-0 lead to open the contest before Brooklyn reeled off a 16-2 run to surge ahead by a 16-8 count with 12:17 remaining in the first half. A Tyler Iozia (Rochelle Park, N.J./Paramus Catholic) layup capped a 7-1 burst that made it a 35-26 Pioneer lead with 2:26 on the clock, and William Paterson carried a 37-34 advantage into the break.

Senior guard Austin Wood led the Bulldogs with 16 points, and senior center Enees Nikovic produced 10 tallies and 14 rebounds. Sophomore forward Maynard Grant added 15 points and six boards.

William Paterson will compete at the Misericordia McCarthy Tire Laurel Line Tournament, taking on Penn State Hazleton Friday, Nov. 18, at 6:00 p.m.

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