EWING, N.J. – In the regular season finale, The College of New Jersey men's basketball team was topped by William Paterson University by a final score of 91-78. TCNJ concluded the regular season with a record of 13-12 and 9-9 in NJAC play.

As he has done often this season, Randall Walko came out of the gates hot with back-to-back three-pointers in the first minute. Walko would not ease up, as he net his twelfth and thirteenth points just over six minutes in to put TCNJ ahead 15-10.

The Pioneers knocked down a pair of free throws to pull within 28-25, yet the Lions went back out in front with an 11-0 run. Ryan Jensen made a pair of free throws before Walko dialed long distance again. Jensen and Walko continued the trend, as that duo stretched the lead to 39-25. Joe Montano scored on a floater to put the Lions up 49-42 with just over a minute left in the half.

With 21 seconds to play in the half, Mike Walley found Tommy Egan on a beautiful baseline feed. Egan converted the lay-up, was fouled, and hit the free throw for the old fashioned three point play. The Lions went into halftime with a 52-47 lead.

Around four minutes into the second half, Jensen threw down a one handed dunk on the baseline. A William Paterson three-pointer tied the ballgame up 56-56 with 14:31 to go. On the ensuing Lion possession, Jensen corralled an offensive rebound and hit the lay-in to put TCNJ up two.

Travis Jocelyn grabbed an offensive rebound with 10:29 to play, and hit the lay-up to make it a 64-63 William Paterson lead. Jensen came up with a big block on the other end to give TCNJ a crucial stop. Walko converted on an and-one to tie it up 68-68 with 8:37 to go.

The nail biting contest continued down the stretch. Walley scored a lay-up off of a nice cut with 4:41 to play to put TCNJ up 75-72. William Paterson knocked down a three-pointer, then Jensen had the answer from long distance. The Pioneers hit another from deep to take an 83-78 lead, and the controlled the final minutes to hang onto the win.

The Lions will take on Montclair State University in the opening round of the NJAC Tournament on February 16. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.