Glassboro, NJ – Stockton University (3-1, 0-1 NJAC) suffered its first defeat of the season as the Ospreys began conference play with an 87-85 setback at Rowan University (2-1, 1-0 NJAC). Stockton dominated the boards 45-32 but shot just 23.5 percent (4-17) from three-point range in the narrow defeat.
 
Onnir Kendall (Williamstown/Williamstown) went 8-10 from the floor and scored a career-high 18 points to lead five Ospreys in double figures. Zavon Johnson (Trenton/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) tossed in 17 points followed by Marcus Harmon (Whitesboro/Middle Twp.) with 13.
 
Steve Ferebee (Galloway/Absegami) scored 12 points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds for a double-double. Darius Jerkins (Somers Point/Mainland) netted 10 markers while Blake Rossell (Margate/St. Augustine) tied his career high with nine points.
 
The Ospreys trailed by seven, 86-79, with two minutes to go. Two straight layups by Kendall got Stockton within 86-83 at the 1:24 mark. Kendall then sank two free throws to make it 86-85 with 41 seconds on the clock.
 
The Ospreys forced two missed shots on Rowan's next possession but could not come up with the rebound on either one. A free throw by the Profs with nine ticks left upped the margin to two at 87-85. Stockton had a chance to tie in the final seconds, however its final shot was off the mark.
 
Stockton led only during the first two minutes but stayed close for most of the first half. The deficit grew to 12 late in the period before two free throws by Johnson made it 51-41 in Rowan's favor at intermission. Ferebee paced the Ospreys with 11 points and six board before the break.
 
Stockton's largest shortfall was 14 points at 59-45 early in the second half. The Ospreys chipped away and got within 71-68 on a layup by Rossell with 9:44 to play and 73-71 on a Johnson free throw 43 seconds later.
 
The margin was three (80-77) after a Ferebee charity toss with 4:31 left and again when Harmon sank a jumper with 3:43 remaining (82-79), but Stockton could not overtake the Profs and fell 87-85.
 
After Thanksgiving, the Ospreys will head to upstate New York for the Rochester Holiday Inn Tournament. Stockton will play Keuka College on Saturday at 7 pm in the first round.