Boxscore

Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (23-5), ranked #17 nationally by D3hoops.com, used some hot shooting and won their fifth straight game with an 81-61 victory over Endicott (23-6) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The win gave the Ospreys at least one victory in 12 of their 15 NCAA Tournament appearances all-time. Stockton shot 54.4% (31-57) from the field including 11-22 (50.0%) from behind the arc and never trailed in the game.
 
Stockton, which led almost wire-to-wire, jumped out to a 36-13 lead behind 12 points by Josh Blamon (Cinnaminson/Cinnaminson), eight by Armin Cane (Pleasantville/Pleasantville) and six from Anthony Woodard (Atlantic City/Atlantic City). The Ospreys were ahead 41-24 at the break on the strength of 53.1 percent shooting from the field.
 
Cane and Blamon led the Osprey charge with 14 and 13 points respectively in the first stanza. Defensively, Stockton held the Gulls to just 4-26 shooting (15.4%) but Endicott went 14-17 (82.4%) from the free throw line for more than half of its points.
 
The Ospreys began the second half with a 19-8 run in the first six minutes to seal the outcome. Cane did most of the damage with eight points during the outburst, which ended with Stockton on top 60-32. The Ospreys stretched the lead to as many 30 at 75-45 with 5:43 left, before Stockton cleared their bench as all 14 players saw action on the way to the 81-61 triumph. The Ospreys shot 56 percent from the field in the second half (14-25).
 
Blamon and Cane led the way for Stockton with 24 and 22 points as the only players in double figures for Stockton. Cane and Woodard tied for game-high honors with eight rebounds each and Woodard also scored eight points. Blamon pilfered three steals while Tom Catanoso (Cape May CH/Middle Twp.) tied his career high of five assists to go with eight points and four rebounds. Catanoso was 3-3 from the field.
 
For the Gulls, Kamahl Walker and John Henault scored 16 points each while Andre Makris added 11 markers. Walker also led the squad with six rebounds.
 
Stockton will host Bates College in the second round of the NCAA Tournament tomorrow night at 7 pm.