Feb 02, 2019
WAYNE, N.J. – Sophomore guard Domenic Mignone's(Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) 20-point performance led four Pioneers in double figures as William Paterson (13-9, 8-7 NJAC) kept pace in the race for a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament bid but downing Kean (5-17, 3-12 NJAC), 80-69, Feb 2.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Trailing 18-10 with just under nine minutes remaining in the opening frame, a pair of three-pointers from Myles McLeod (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) made it a one-possession game. Deadlocked at 29-29, Anthony Uribe's (Hackensack, N.J./Bergen Catholic) trifecta capped off an 8-0 run as WP opened a 36-29 advantage. Kean cut the deficit just before half and WP took a 36-33 lead in the locker room.
- Five points from Sean Smith (Moraga, Calif./Campolindo) and a layup from Nasir Fields (Winslow Twp., N.J./Winslow Twp.) allowed the Pioneers to push its lead to eight, 43-35, less than three minutes into the second stanza. Kean battled back to make it a six-point contest (56-50, 8:40), but an ensuing driving layup from Justin Lingat (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East), coupled with a deep three from Mignone, pushed the lead back to double digits. The Cougars would get within nine late in the game, but six tallies from Mignone in the final 2:09 helped WP pull away and close out the 80-69 triumph.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Nasir Fields (Winslow Twp., N.J./Winslow Twp.) finished 7-of-8 (.875) from the charity stripe en route to his first double-double of season, registering 13 points and a personal-best 14 rebounds in 21 minutes. Mignone connected on 69.2 percent (9-13) of his attempt from the field to record his second 20+ point scoring output of the season. McLeod finished with 18 tallies and has now scored in double-digits in three straight games. Uribe contributed 10 points and led all players with five assists.
- WP held a 38-28 edge in paint points, while the Pioneer bench outscored the Cougar's reserves 24-12.
- William Paterson remains in sixth place in the NJAC standings with three games left, while the loss eliminates Kean from the postseason.
UP NEXT:
- WP heads to Rowan on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 8:00 p.m.
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