WAYNE, N.J. – Four Pioneers were in double figures in scoring as No. 20 William Paterson (18-3, 8-2 NJAC) jumped out to an early lead and finished off Montclair State (16-6, 6-4 NJAC), 83-70, in a battle of New Jersey Athletic Conference Men's Basketball North Division leaders Feb. 1.

With the victory, WP has a two-game lead over MSU, New Jersey City (6-4) and Ramapo (6-4) in the North with three league games remaining.  The top team in each division will receive a first-round bye for the upcoming NJAC Tournament.

Junior guard Rick DeStefano (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro) poured in a career-high 25 points on 5-for-9 (.556) shooting from three-point range while making all 10 of his free throws.  Classmate Corey Chandler (Newark, N.J./Newark East Side) contributed 17 tallies, seven rebounds and three assists, junior guard/forward Lance Brown (Teaneck, N.J./Paterson Catholic) had 12 points, and freshman guard Jaques Conceicao (Massama-Lisboa, Portugal/Francais Charle Lepierre) posted 11 points and team bests of nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The Pioneers started the contest with a 17-5 burst during the first 6:25 and enjoyed their largest lead of the first half, 40-23, at the break.  That advantage grew to as many as 21 (59-38, 13:18), and when the Red Hawks briefly threatened by pulling to within five at 62-57 with 8:43 remaining, WP responded with a 17-7 run to erase any doubt at 79-64 with 1:43 on the clock.

Andrew August scored a game-high 29 points for Montclair State, dishing out seven assists and collecting eight rebounds.  Daniel Singleton chipped in 10 tallies.

William Paterson was 9-for-17 (.529) from beyond the arc and built a 47-36 rebounding advantage.

William Paterson will play at Ramapo Saturday, Feb. 4, at 3:00 p.m.