FULL STORY: https://njcugothicknights.com/news/2019/12/4/201912-04_MBASKETBALL_mens-basketball-william-paterson-knocks-down-19-threes-shocks-njcumbb-89-71.aspx

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | William Paterson University knocked down 19 three-point field goals, including 11 in the second half to break open a one-point halftime margin and upset the New Jersey City University men's basketball team, 89-71 in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on December 4 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).

William Paterson shot 11-of-16 from three-point distance in the second half—68.75 percent—and a staggering 19-for-31 overall, connecting on 61.3 percent from long distance. The 19 made threes by the Pioneers (4-2, 1-1 NJAC) are the most by an opponent against NJCU (3-3, 1-1 NJAC) on record in school history.

After going 43-6 at home in the last four seasons, NJCU has uncharacteristically fallen to 2-3 at home in the first five games of the season.

William Paterson led by just one at halftime but outscored NJCU 53-36 in the second half. WP shot 56.3 percent overall from the field in the second half (18-32) and 51.6 percent overall on the night (32-62).

Three players carried most of the offensive workload, combining for 77 points—six more than NJCU as a team. The Pioneers received an insane effort from senior forward Sean Smith (Moraga, Calif.), who scored 36 points on 11-of-17 shooting, including 10-of-14 three-point prowess, while converting 4-of-5 from the line with six assists.

Junior guard Domenic Mignone (Rutherford, N.J.) added 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting, and made 3-of-4 from three-point distance with five assists. Junior forward Malcolm McLeod (Teaneck, N.J.) had 17 points (6-10 FG, 4-6 3FG).

In defeat, junior shooting guard Denzel Banks scored 20 or more for the fourth consecutive game, leading the Knights with 21 points (6-14 FG). Junior power forward Jahmere Calhoun started for the first time and registered a double-double of 12 rebounds and 10 points (5-11 FG) with two steals. Senior power forward and First-Team All-American Sam Toney only got eight shots off, finishing with 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists. NJCU shot 24-of-63 overall (.381) and 21.1 percent from three-point range (4-19 FG).

HOW IT HAPPENED

• NJCU started three different starters compared to its opening-day roster. Junior Adonius Melvins, Jr. got his first start at point guard, senior shooting guard Jeff Haddock Jr. getting his second straight start for injured Jaimik Moore and Calhoun was in the lineup for the first time.
• NJCU opened up an early 8-2 lead. A pullup jumper by Banks pushed the early lead to 10-2. After WP hit a three, Banks drilled one from the right arc coming down the floor to make it 13-5. WP answered with back-to-back threes by McLeod and Mignone and cut the deficit to 13-11. A third straight three, this time by Smith, put WP on top for the first time, 14-13. A floater in the lane pushed the run to 14-3.
• Quadri Moore, who did not start, came in and had a follow tip-in layup to pull NJCU within one.
• WPU extended the run to 21-5 and the lead to 23-15 as junior guard Justin Lingat (Toms River, N.J.) hit WP's fifth three of the half (5-9) and Mignone followed with a jumper. Sophomore shooting guard Kayton Darley hit a three to calm the run before McLeod hit another trey for the Pioneers with 8:30 left. A three-point play by Banks (10th point) cut it to 26-21 as he had nearly half of NJCU's points in the first 12 minutes.
• NJCU battled back within one (28-27) before Smith buried the team's seventh triple of the half (7-12).
• With 4:10 left, Darley tied the game (31-31) with two from the line. WP led by one at halftime (36-35), shooting 8-of-15 from three-point range.
• WP came out and scored the first eight points of the second half (44-35) and a three by Smith with 18:09 left capped the run (47-37) at 11-2.
• Smith hit back-to-back threes for WP to elevate the lead to 14, 62-48, with 13:53 left—his 26th point on 9-of-11 shooting and 8-of-9 three-point success to that point. 
• WP's 14th three of the game (Lingat) made the lead 67-54. A 15th three, an NBA-range three by Mignone (70-54) gave WP a 16-point lead with 12:07 left. Mignone hit another stepback three moments later (72-58) as the Pioneers were 16-of-25 (64.0 percent) from three-point land. McLeod buried a three from the corner (75-60, 9:59) and pulled away, knocking down two more triples in the half.

NOTABLES:

• Series: 155th known meeting between these historic rivals. NJCU currently leads the series, 83-72.
• Banks scored in double figures for the 19th time in 34 career games and netted his eighth 20-point effort. 
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• Toney upped his career scoring totals to 1,450 points. He needs eight more points to pass Hall-of-Famer and assistant coach Abdul Madison (1,457 points, 1993-97) for the Top 10 in school history. Toney scored in double figures for the 71st time in 90 career games. 

UP NEXT:

• NJCU hopes the third time will be the charm to give 13th-year head coach Marc Brown his milestone 200th career win when it faced Rowan University on Saturday, December 7 at 3 p.m. in Glassboro, N.J. It will be the first meeting between the schools since Rowan shocked NJCU in the final seconds to win the NJAC championship in Jersey City on February 22, 2019.

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