Box Score Mahwah, NJ: The Stockton University men's basketball team won a key NJAC game over Ramapo College this afternoon, 76-68. The Ospreys improve to 9-7 overall and 6-3 in the NJAC while the Roadrunners move to 4-12 overall and 3-6 on the year.
Stockton jumped out to a 15-2 lead which included three of their seven first half three-pointers. Â The two teams traded baskets as Elijah Barlow and Charlie Bell IV each scored two points. Stockton saw themselves up by 14 with just over eight minutes left in the half. Ramapo would then go on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to just four with 5:14 remaining. Enoch Hutchinson started the run with a three-pointer before Jalen Thomas scored two from the free throw line. Barlow connected on back-to-back baskets cutting the lead to four, 29-24. Stockton immediately responded with back-to-back three-pointers to regain a double-digit lead, 35-24 with 4:25 on the clock. That started a 14-2 run to close out the first half with a 43-26 lead over Ramapo at the half.
Stockton would lead the remainder of the game holding a double-digit lead until Ramapo cut it to five with just under three minutes remaining. A pair of free throws from Eriq Campbell gave Stockton a 68-55 lead with 5:28 on the clock. The Roadrunners would battle back with a 10-2 run of their own. Ramapo tallied the first four points from the free throw line before Orion Mickens and Thomas each converted an and-one play off layups as they cut the lead to five. The Ospreys would once again respond with a bucket from Bell which led to a mini 6-1 run to end the game with the 76-68 lead. Stockton's final points would come from the free throw line as Tayvon Gaither converted both free throws including his 16th point of the game which gave him 1,000th points for his career at Stockton.
Four starters scored in double figures for the Ospreys as they were led by Gaither who collected 17 points and six rebounds. Justin Harper led the way with three made three-pointers as he posted 15 points and four assists. Bell posted 14 points and Andrew Crawford added 12 points. Campbell and Jahmir Payoute each grabbed seven rebounds to lead the team while Devon Johnson contributed with ten points. The team shot 46% (30-64) from the field, 29% (9-31) from the three-point line and 70% (7-10) from the free throw line.
Barlow, Hutchinson, Orion Mickens and Isaiah Chung all scored 12 points each for the Roadrunners. Mickens added 11 rebounds for his first double double of the season. Tyrell Murchison posted seven points and seven rebounds while Thomas added seven rebounds and six points. Ramapo shot 39% (23-58) from the field, 23% (3-13) from the three-point line and 73% (19-26) from the free throw line.
The Roadrunners return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 21st when they travel to New Jersey City University for a NJAC game at 7:30 PM.
