EWING, N.J. – Senior guard Bright Mensah (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) matched his career high with 33 points as the William Paterson men's basketball team (9-7, 4-5 NJAC) scored an 81-76 victory at The College of New Jersey (9-6, 5-4 NJAC) Jan. 16.

Mensah was 11-for-15 (.733) from the floor overall and 4-for-7 (.571) from three-point range, adding five rebounds and three assists. Junior forward Richy Espinal (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) went 8-for-12 (.667) overall and 2-for-3 (.667) from behind the arc for 22 points, chipping in nine boards. Senior guard Terik Bridgeman (Harlem, N.Y./Nia Prep) added 12 points and nine rebounds.

Tied at 37-37 at the break, Espinal scored the first seven points of the second half as the Pioneers built a 53-43 advantage at the 15:22 mark. The Lions rallied to go ahead by a 70-69 count with 4:39 left, but Bridgeman scored two straight buckets (73-70, 2:46), and when TCNJ later made it a 76-76 game with 1:16 to play, a Manny Hernandez (Paterson, N.J./Paramus Catholic) layup and defensive rebound, and two Joseph Taylor (Camden, N.J./Woodrow Wilson) free throws, created a two-possession game at 80-76 with 24 seconds on the clock.

Junior guard Eric Klacik led the Lions with 21 points. Sophomore guard Eric Murdock, Jr. contributed 16 tallies and six assists.

William Paterson will visit Ramapo Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 7:30 p.m.

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