GLASSBORO, N.J. – The William Paterson men's basketball team (5-5, 3-3 NJAC) scored the final three points of the game to win a see-saw 51-48 contest at Rowan (9-2, 4-2 NJAC) Dec. 15.

Trailing by three at 48-45 with 3:54 remaining, freshman guard Bright Mensah (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) got the Pioneers within one with a layup 22 seconds later.  The two teams combined for seven misses and a turnover during the next 2:24 before Mensah was fouled.  He made both free throws to hand WP a one-point advantage (49-48, 1:05), and two Prof misses led to another foul.  This time senior guard Rick DeStefano (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro) stepped to line and drained a pair (51-48, 0:12).  Rowan twice had chances at a game-tying three-pointer during the waning seconds, but could not convert.

Senior guard/forward Lance Brown (Teaneck, N.J./Paterson Catholic) had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Pioneers, and Mensah finished with 10 tallies and 13 rebounds.  DeStefano chipped in eight points, and freshman guard/forward Terik Bridgeman (Harlem, N.Y./Nia Prep) collected 10 boards.

Five lead changes marked a close first half, and William Paterson carried a 29-28 edge into the locker room.  The Pioneers scored the first five tallies of the second period (34-28, 18:33), but four more lead changes marked the final 15 minutes as neither team could establish more than a two-possession advantage.

Brendan Cox led Rowan with 12 points and 10 rebounds.  Kendall White had 10 tallies.

William Paterson will visit Lehman Saturday, Dec. 29, at 2:00 p.m.

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