EWING, N.J. – Senior guard Turell McClendon (Newark, N.J./Piscataway Tech) had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, but the William Paterson men's basketball team (5-8, 1-5 NJAC) suffered a 69-54 loss at The College of New Jersey (8-4, 5-1 NJAC) Jan. 4.

Sophomore guard Anthony Uribe (Hackensack, N.J./Bergen Catholic) scored a team-best 13 points, while senior guard Joseph Taylor (Camden, N.J./Woodrow Wilson) finished with 11 tallies, six boards and four steals.

The Lions built a 20-9 lead less than nine minutes into the contest and carried a 35-18 lead into the locker room as the Pioneers made just six of 31 (.194) field goals during the opening half.

When TCNJ pushed ahead by a 41-25 count with 15:05 remaining, WP responded by scoring 18 of the game's next 22 points, pulling to within two at 45-43 at the 9:23 mark after making six of seven (.857) attempts from the floor.

Two Taylor free throws made it a one-possession game at 52-49 with 6:52 to play, but the Lions used a 14-1 run to create a 66-50 edge with 3:21 on the clock.

Junior guard Eric Murdock, Jr. led four Lions in double figures with 16 points. Senior forward Bobby Brackett added 15 tallies and 12 rebounds.

William Paterson will host Rutgers-Newark Saturday, Jan. 7, at 3:00 p.m.

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