Boxscore

Lancaster, PA – After opening the season with 11 straight wins, #4 Richard Stockton (11-1) suffered its first defeat of the season, falling 71-63 to #25 Franklin & Marshall (11-0) in the championship game of the Sponaugle Tournament. The Ospreys trimmed a 21-point deficit to five but could not complete the rally. Armin Cane (Pleasantville/Pleasantville) scored a team-high 17 points and Josh Blamon (Cinnaminson/Cinnaminson) added 16 markers. Blamon was named to the All-Tournament Team.
 
Stockton shot a dismal 30 percent (9-30) in the first half and scored just three points in the last five minutes of period, which came on a three-pointer by Cane, on the way to a 40-22 deficit to the unbeaten Diplomats at the break. Cane and freshman Onnir Kendall (Williamstown/Williamstown) were the only players with more than one field goal as they paced the Ospreys with just five and four points respectively.
 
The margin reached 21 three times in the first four minutes of the second half before Stockton began to chip away. Carlton Whitehead (Ewing/Life Center) scored five points during an 18-6 run that brought the Ospreys within nine but they could not sustain the momentum and fell behind by 15 with 5:12 to play.
 
Blamon scored eight straight points and Cane followed with a layup that brought Stockton to 66-61 with 2:09 remaining. Cane answered two F&M free throws with another basket to make it 68-63 with 53 seconds on the clock but the Osprey comeback fell short and they suffered their first setback of the season, 71-63.
 
Cane and Anthony Woodard (Atlantic City/Atlantic City) tied for the team lead with eight rebounds apiece while Whitehead contributed seven points, all in the second half. Marcus Harmon (Whitesboro/Middle Twp.) finished with seven points and a team-high three assists. The meeting was the first between the teams since Stockton defeated the Diplomats 62-58 in the 2009 NCAA Final Four.
 
Stockton will play next on Wednesday in an NJAC game at New Jersey City at 8 pm.