UNION, N.J. – Tied at 64-64 with 2:59 remaining, the William Paterson men's basketball team (7-8, 3-5 NJAC) came up with the big plays necessary to secure a 76-68 victory at Kean (0-14, 0-8 NJAC) Jan. 11.

The Cougars scored seven straight points to forge a 64-64 deadlock, but senior guard Turell McClendon (Newark, N.J./Piscataway Tech) answered with a layup 20 seconds later, followed by a 1-for-2 trip to the free-throw line by senior guard Galen Smith (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway Tech) and a steal and layup by senior guard Joseph Taylor (Camden, N.J./Woodrow Wilson) for a 69-64 Pioneer edge with 2:11 on the clock.

The two teams traded free throws before a Kean jumper cut the advantage to 71-68 with 1:16 left. McClendon and Smith combined to make three of four free throws during the next 40 seconds for a 74-68 margin, and senior forward Richy Espinal (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) came up with a steal during the next KU possession and was fouled. He added the final two points from the stripe with 26 seconds to play.

Espinal led all players with 21 points while dishing out a team-best four assists. Taylor contributed 14 tallies, while McClendon and Smith each had 11. Senior forward Fredrik Hagbarth (Stockholm, Sweden/Kungsholmens Gymnasium) led WP in rebounding with six.

The Pioneers never trailed, and led by as many as 16 (28-12, 7:47) during the first half. Despite the Cougars' 60.8 (31-51) percent shooting from the floor, William Paterson created a +14 (22-8) turnover advantage and a 27-7 edge in points scored off the miscues.

Sophomore forward Michael Summerer led five Kean players in double figures with 16 points, adding a game-high nine rebounds.

William Paterson will host Rutgers-Camden Saturday, Jan. 14, at 1:00 p.m.

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