Wayne, NJ:  The Ramapo College men's basketball team posted an 81-86 overtime loss tonight to the Pioneers of William Paterson in a New Jersey Athletic Conference match-up.  With the loss the Roadrunners fall to 10-7 overall and 4-6 in conference play.  William Paterson improves to 15-2 overall and 9-1 in the NJAC.
 
Terik Bridgeman led the Pioneers with 29 points shooting 13-17 from the field as the team hit a combined 31-74 (42%) in the overtime conference win.  Bright Mensah collected 14 points and Sandy Burgos added 11, while Bridgeman pulled down a team high nine rebounds in the win.
 
James Long got the Roadrunners on the board to start the game and Ramapo quickly jumped out to a 7-2 lead, before a 5-0 Pioneer run would tie the game for the second time, 7-7, with 15:13 on the clock.  The two teams traded baskets, and the lead, over the next seven minutes until a mini 4-0 run from Ramapo, capped off with two free throws from Frank Nock, put Ramapo up 23-19 with 7:38 left on the clock.  William Paterson would fight to regain the lead and the teams again traded baskets until the game was tied at 31-31. Thomas Bonacum sparked a 7-0 run, capped off with a basket from Ve'Shawn Polite at the buzzer, putting the Roadrunners ahead, 38-31 heading into halftime.  Nock led Ramapo with 11 points and Mensah collected a team leading ten points for the Pioneers in the half.
 
In the second half, Ramapo held the lead until 13:29, when a basket from Galen Smith put the Pioneers up, 47-46.  Ramapo's Nick Stanek responded with 10:08 on the clock, tying the game at 52, with a three-point goal.  Again trading baskets until a 60-60 tie, William Paterson connected six points to go ahead, 66-60 with just 4:12 left to play.  Ramapo would fight to connect a 7-2 run to close the gap, 67-68, before a basket from Christopher Moseley would give the Roadrunners the lead, 69-68 with just 24 seconds left on the clock.  Free throws from Polite put Ramapo up 71-68, but a buzzer beater from Zach Frick tied the game at 71 forcing overtime play.  Bridgeman netted 12 points in the half as the team went 14-25 (40%).  Ramapo was led by eight points from Polite.  The team shot 7-18 (39%) in the half.
 
Burgos opened overtime play with a three-point goal and another long shot from Frick would put the Pioneers ahead 77-71 with 3:51 on the clock.  Long and Polite made it a two-point game with two points each for Ramapo and after the two teams traded baskets over the remainder of the game, William Paterson proved to be too much making a final push, ending up on top, 86-81 earning the conference victory. 
 
Polite led the Roadrunners with 18 points and Nock finished the night with 12, while Bonacum, Moseley and Long each collected ten points in the loss.  The Roadrunners shot a combined 22-51 (43%) on the night.  Long dished out four assists and Polite grabbed four steals.
 
The Roadrunners will travel to Rowan University on Saturday, January 24th when they return to action at 3pm.