Wayne, NJ --- The Brooklyn College Men's Basketball team (0-1) fell in overtime in its 2014-2015 season opener at William Paterson University (1-0) on Saturday afternoon by as score of 95-88.

The trio of senior Jai Kellman and juniors Jamel Gist and Egzon Gjonbalaj combined to score 66 of BC's 88 points, as all three finished the game with 22 points apiece. Gjonbalaj also added eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals to his stat line. Senior Valon Djombalic pulled down a game and BC career-high 19 rebounds, to go along with eight points.

The Pioneers had six players score in double figures, including four starters. Sandy Burgos led all scorers with 28 points, Bright Mensah added 17 points. Terik Bridgeman (14 points and 11 rebounds) and Jaques Conceicao (10 points and 11 rebounds) each recorded a double-double, while Zach Frick and Nick Smith contributed with 12 and 10 points, respectively, coming off the bench.

The home team controlled the first half scoring the first six points of the game. The Pioneers would never trail in the half and would lead by as many as 16, 41-25, on a three-pointer from Frick with 1:29 left in the opening period. William Paterson would eventually take a 13-point halftime lead, 44-31, into the locker room.

The Pioneers shot 47.2% (17-for-36) from the field in the first half to aid in their intermission advantage. Brooklyn struggled from the field going 10-for-30 (33.3%) in the half.

The second half would see the Bulldogs turn the tables, as the visitors used a hot shooting hand going 19-for-32 (59.4%) from the field en route to out-scoring the Pioneers 45-32 to force overtime.

BC opened the second half on an 11-0 run to cut its deficit to two, 44-42, with 15:27 remaining in the game. Djombalic, senior Steven Diaz, Kellman and Gist all contributed to the run. A pair of free throws from Smith at the 15:10 mark would eventually end Brooklyn's scoring surge.

The Bulldogs would tie the game three times before eventually taking their first lead of the day, 73-70, on a three-pointer from Gist with 2:59 left before the final buzzer. The Pioneers would regain the lead scoring six straight points to go up 76-73 with just 1:11 remaining. A key three-pointer from Gjonbalaj would tie the game for the fourth time at 76 all with 56 seconds left.

Gist would have a chance to win the game for BC at the buzzer; however, his three-pointer was off the mark as the teams headed into overtime.

The teams began the overtime period by exchanging three-pointers. From that point forward, William Paterson would seize control by scoring seven straight to go ahead 86-79 with 1:44 left. The Bulldogs would be unable to recover from its deficit, as the Pioneers would go on to take the hard-fought 95-88 overtime win.

Brooklyn will return to the hardwood tomorrow, Sunday, November 16th, as the Bulldogs will travel to Hoboken, NJ to take on the Ducks of Stevens Institute of Technology. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 pm start time. Live stats and video will be available online.