boolean createNewEntry = true;

      lock();
      try {
        // re-read ticker once inside the lock
        long now = map.ticker.read();
        preWriteCleanup(now);

        int newCount = this.count - 1;
        AtomicReferenceArray<ReferenceEntry<K, V>> table = this.table;
        int index = hash & (table.length() - 1);