WAYNE — In a contest defined by drastic scoring runs and high-stakes drama, the William Paterson University men’s basketball team held off a ferocious second-half comeback from Kean University to secure a 71–67 victory tonight, Feb. 11, 2026.
The win provides a crucial late-season boost for the Pioneers (8-15, 3-13 NJAC), while Kean (11-12, 8-8 NJAC) suffers a setback in their quest for postseason positioning.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair in which neither side could build a lead of more than six points. William Paterson relied on efficient perimeter shooting and a disciplined defense to keep the Cougars at bay. Malachi Jeffers-Viera was a force for Kean early on, scoring 14 of his game-high 22 points in the opening frame, including a jumper with three seconds left to keep Kean within striking distance. Despite his efforts, the Pioneers headed into the locker room with a 34–30 lead.
Coming out of the break, the Pioneers looked ready to run away with the game. A clinical 12–6 run midway through the second half pushed the William Paterson lead to double digits at 56–44. The home crowd at the Sports and Recreation Center was electric, sensing a dominant finish.
Kean University, however, refused to go quietly. The Cougars ignited a stunning 23–9 run over the next eight minutes, clawing back to erase the 12-point deficit. The surge was capped by a clutch triple from Braelen Crump with 1:38 remaining, which gave Kean a 67–65 lead and silenced the Wayne faithful.
With the game on the line, the Pioneers’ defense clamped down. William Paterson held Kean without a single field goal for the final 98 seconds of play. Strategic fouling and composed free-throw shooting allowed the Pioneers to reclaim the lead and ice the game, ultimately securing the four-point victory.
The Pioneers relied on a mix of veteran composure and frontcourt efficiency for this win. Ethan Paul, the senior forward from Tom’s River, was the engine of the offense. He finished with 14 points and also led William Paterson with 5 assists. Sophomore Delani Hyde provided a physical presence that Kean struggled to match. He shot an efficient 50 percent from the field to finish with 13 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, often securing vital second-chance opportunities when the Cougars were making their late-game push. Finally, freshman guard Ty’Shawn Pearson played with the poise of an upperclassman. While his scoring was modest, he led the defensive effort in the backcourt, recording multiple steals and playing tight man-to-man coverage during the final 98 seconds when the Pioneers held Kean scoreless.
The Pioneers outshot the Cougars from the field, finishing at 46.4 percent compared to Kean’s 37.3 percent. The disparity was even more apparent from beyond the arc, where William Paterson shot a solid 37.5 percent, while Kean struggled at just 15 percent (3-of-20). Despite Kean winning the rebounding battle 38–37 and getting a monstrous 14-rebound performance from Christian Garcia, their cold shooting from deep proved too difficult to overcome.
The Pioneers will look to build on this momentum as they stay home to host Rutgers-Camden this Saturday. For Kean, the road only gets tougher as they prepare to travel to take on the conference-leading Montclair State University Red Hawks on Saturday afternoon.
