Brooklyn, NY---The Brooklyn College Men's Basketball Team played a physical and aggressive game in front of their home crowd on Monday evening but could not come out with a win as visiting William Patterson shot nearly 50% from the field to pull out the 80-72 victory.  With the win, the Pioneers, ranked #20 in the most recent D3Hoops.com poll, improved to 17-3 on the season, while the Bulldogs fell to 12-7.

The game saw a total of 78 free throws attempted by the two teams, including 47 by the home Bulldogs, who forced 32 Pioneer turnovers, including 23 steals.  Senior Amil John led the defensive effort with eight steals.  Brooklyn also blocked nine shots but were outrebounded 51-31 and were only able to convert on 3-23 from three-point range.

The first half saw some back and forth action as each team tried to feel out their opponent.  The opening minutes saw the Bulldogs jump out to a 6-2 lead on a Keiran Halton basket just 2:52 into the game.  The Pioneers immediately responded with an 8-2 run, capped by a Julio Rosario basket, to gain the four-point advantage with 13:46 to play in the half.

Brooklyn would eventually chip away and then take a 32-29 advantage, their biggest of the evening, on a Keiran Halton free throw.  Patterson would battle back to go into the locker room with a 38-36 lead.

The Pioneers' Lance Brown would lead all scorers at the half with 16 points, while Russell topped BC with 13.

The second half saw Patterson jump out to a quick seven point lead as they opened the period on a 5-0 run.  BC fought back once again and tied the score on three occasions, but Patterson would immediately respond with an 8-1 run, capped by a Rick DeStefano three to open a 55-48 lead. 

After four consecutive BC free throws cut the lead to three, Patterson opened their first double-figure lead of the game as a Nolan Hill layup finished a 7-0 run by the visitors.  BC cut into the lead on the next two possessions as John and Fillip Bochkov each were fouled but they each only converted on one of two. 

After a Baker missed three, Patterson got the ball to DeStefano, who was fouled by Baker on a three-point attempt.  The guard made all three attempts, pushing the lead to 11.  After a Russell missed three, Rosario knocked down a jumper to give WPU their biggest advantage of the evening, 67-54.

Brooklyn would not go away, as they were able to cut the deficit to six, 75-69, on a Russell free throw, and then after Patterson's James McLane hit one of thwo from the line, the Bulldogs' Wade Kornegay hit a three-pointer with 50 seconds remaining to cut the lead to four.

DeStefano was able to clinch the game at the free throw line with two made attempts, pushing the lead to six.

Brown led all scorers with 25 points, while pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds. DeStefano chipped in with 13.

Russell led Brooklyn with 24 points, while knocking down 18-21 from the line.  Halton, who played all 40 minutes for Brooklyn, scored 14 points and blocked three shots.

BC will head out on the road Wednesday as they take on conference rival Medgar Evers in a crucial South Division battle.