JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | On the 18th of January, each school entered Wednesday night's New Jersey Athletic Conference men's basketball game with a key 18 on the line. In the first of two NJAC meetings this year between the schools, No. 18 ranked William Paterson University outscored New Jersey City University, 45-26 in the second half, taking advantage of points off turnovers and second chance scoring as the Pioneers snapped NJCU's two-year, 18-game home court winning streak, 72-58, on 'Coach Charlie Brown Court' at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.
WPU, ranked No. 18 by D3hoops.com, extended its winning streak to five straight while NJCU (12-4, 3-3 NJAC) dropped its second in a row while losing at home for the first time since a 70-67 setback to Kean University on December 4, 2010. In the 137th meeting between the schools, NJCU leads the all-time series, 75-62. The Gothic Knights fell into fourth place in the NJAC North Division—one game behind Montclair State University (4-2) and Ramapo College (4-2) and two behind the Pioneers with seven league games remaining.
NJCU, which committed 23 turnovers in a loss at Richard Stockton College on January 14, coughed up 21 in tonight's loss—its six 20-plus turnover game and the fourth in six outings. The Pioneers only committed nine turnovers—and just three in the second half—and owned a 23-5 difference in points off turnovers.