PURCHASE, N.Y. – A last-second tip-in by the Valiants handed the William Paterson men's basketball team (1-1) its first loss of the season, as the Pioneers came up just short to host Manhattanville College (2-0) in the opening round of the AJ Buchanan Classic, 62-60, at Kennedy Gymnasium, Nov. 17.
 
With WP leading by two points late, the Valiants dropped in two buckets during the final 66 seconds of the contest, including a tip-in by Alex Tuci with five seconds remaining.
 
Senior guard George Sapp (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek) poured in a career-high 16 points in the contest to lead four Pioneers in double figures, Junior Peter Martinez (Stockton, Calif./Dublin) chipped in 14 behind four three-pointers, while senior Dapo Badmos (Toronto, Canada/The Kiski School) added 12 points and classmate Richy Espinal (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) followed with a 10-point output.
 
It was all WP in the opening 13 minutes, with the Pioneers leading by as many as 15 in the first half, 24-9, with 12:32 on the clock. A layup by junior Saint Simeon Beaubrun (Irvington, N.J./Columbia) capped off a 12-0 run to put the Pioneers up by 11, and moments later Martinez drained a three to make it 24-9, less than eight minutes in. The Pioneers held the 15-point advantage until the 6:06 mark of the stanza, but the Valiants exploded for a 21-2 run over the next eight minutes of game action to take the lead, 32-28, early in the second half.
 
It was a tale of runs to determine a winner, with Manhattanville stretching its lead to 11 points at 53-42 with 8:24 remaining. The Pioneers showed no quit however, as the Orange and Black came storming back with 18 of the next 23 points, taking the lead by two when Martinez drained back-to-back threes with 1:26 to play.
 
Manhattanville's Dom Arena knotted the score with a layup at the 1:06 mark. After a stagnant 60 seconds, Tuci gained position and tipped in a missed three-pointer to give the Valiants the lead with five seconds remaining, and a last second three-pointer by Martinez did not fall.
 
The Pioneers are back in action Saturday, Nov. 18, in the consolation game of the tournament. WP will take on taking on SUNY Brockport, which came up short against Western Connecticut, 66-63, in the first game of the four-team classic. Tip off for that contest is slated for 1:00 p.m.
 
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