Upper Montclair, NJ -- Senior guard KAHLID COURSEY (Newark, NJ/Shabazz) scored a game-high 28 points, including 16 in the first half as fourth-seeded and two-time defending champion William Paterson University upset top-seeded Montclair State, 66-42, in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at Panzer Gymnasium this evening.

William Paterson will face second-seeded Richard Stockton in the Championship Game in Pomona on Saturday, February 23 at 7:00 pm. Richard Stockton defeated third-seeded Ramapo, 74-68 this evenng. RASHAAN BARNER (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) added 10 points for the Pioneers (18-9), who will advance to their third straight NJAC title game. No team has won three consecutive NJAC Championships since the Pioneers from 1983-85.

OMAR BOOTHE (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) finished with 11 points for the Red Hawks (18-8), who suffered their worst loss of the season. Montclair State was hosting its first NJAC Tournament game since 1984.

Coursey got the Pioneers off to a flying start as he scored 13 of William Paterson's first 15 points, including three three-pointers giving WPU a 15-6 lead with 12:31 to play. Montclair State would not get as close as 15 the rest of the way. Montclair State shot just 33 percent (9-of-27) from the field in the first half and committed 10 turnovers.

In the second half, Montclair trailed 44-20 with 16:44 before cutting the lead to 15 as Boothe hit a three-pointer while HAROLD WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/St. Aloysius), MICHAEL GLUCK (Union, NJ/Union) and JOSEPH THOMAS (Linden, NJ/Linden) each scored baskets to make the score 44-29 with 11:51 to play. However, the Pioneers quickly pushed the lead back to 25 as Coursey scored seven points in a 14-4 run over the next five minutes.