PURCHASE, N.Y. – A red-hot first half by SUNY Brockport (1-1) proved to be too much for the William Paterson men's basketball team (1-2) to overcome, as the Pioneers came up short, 76-59, in the consolation game of the AJ Buchanan Classic hosted by Manhattanville College, Nov. 18.
 
Senior George Sapp (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek) was named to the All-Tournament Team, averaging 12.5 points over the two games.
 
Sophomore Sean Smith (Moraga, Calif./Campolindo) led the Pioneers with 16 points, going 4-for-7 from beyond the arc. Senior Dapo Badmos (Toronto, Canada/The Kiski School) added 12 points in 26 minutes, and fellow senior Richy Espinal (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) pulled down nine rebounds.
 
The Pioneers found themselves in a hole early, trailing 10-0 after missing their first three shot attempts while the Golden Eagles drilled four of their first five. Brockport eventually stretched the lead to as many as 15 points at 26-11 with 8:43 remaining in the opening period, and the Pioneers found themselves trailing 40-28 at the intermission.
 
WP shot 37 (10-27) percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, but Brockport's blistering 56 (15-27) percent shooting effort, including 64 (7-11) percent from beyond the arc.
 
The Pioneers could only get within seven points in the second half, 44-37, with 17:38 to play, but the Golden Eagles did not allow WP to get within striking distance during the final 20 minutes.
 
William Paterson will look to get back on the winning track on Tuesday, Nov. 21, when the team travels to Ramapo College for its first New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) battle of the season beginning at 7:30 p.m.
 
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