Taylor’s Career-High 27 Points Help William Paterson Men’s Basketball Defeat Rutgers-Camden, 84-77

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WAYNE, N.J. – Senior guard Joseph Taylor (Camden, N.J./Woodrow Wilson) scored 18 of his career-high 27 points during the second half to help lead the William Paterson men's basketball team (8-8, 4-5 NJAC) to an 84-77 home victory against Rutgers-Camden (2-11, 1-8 NJAC) Jan. 14.

 

The Scarlet Raptors scored nine of the game's first 13 points, but an 11-2 Pioneer run handed WP a 19-14 edge midway through the first half. William Paterson's advantage stretched to as many as six (24-18, 8:19) after a three-pointer from senior guard Zach Frick (Sparta, N.J./Sparta), and the Pioneers carried a 40-36 edge into the locker room behind 12 points from senior forward Richy Espinal (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) and nine tallies from Taylor.

 

When WP surged ahead by a 58-48 count with 13:19 to play, Rutgers-Camden scored 10 straight to knot the score at 58-58 with 9:49 on the clock. Taylor scored the next 13 William Paterson points, resulting in a 71-65 edge four minutes later, and after the Scarlet Raptors later drained a three-pointer to get within one (73-72, 2:52), Taylor knocked down a trey of his own (76-72, 1:54). William Paterson made six of its eight free throws down the stretch to put the game away.

 

Taylor added three assists and three steals to his 9-for-15 (.600) shooting. Espinal collected 18 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Frick was 4-for-7 (.571) from three-point range and 7-for-12 (.583) overall for 18 tallies.

 

Junior guard Shafeek Taylor led the Scarlet Raptors with 23 points, adding seven rebounds. Freshman guard Keith Washington Jr. scored 18 tallies and junior guard Charlie Riccardi had 17, while sophomore forward Isaac Destin finished with a game-best nine rebounds.

 

The Pioneers committed just four second-half turnovers while shooting 50.0 (14-28) percent from the field during the final 20 minutes.

 

William Paterson will visit No. 13 Ramapo Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m.

 

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