Boxscore

Galloway, NJ - Stockton University (2-2, 0-2 NJAC) saw a 12-point second-half lead slip away as they fell to The College of New Jersey (4-2, 2-0) 66-62 on Wednesday night. Tom Catanoso (Cape May CH/Middle Twp.) led the Ospreys with a career-high 19 points. The game was the fourth straight contest at home to start the season for Stockton.
 
Stockton started the first half jumping out to a 21-10 lead at 11:18 on the strength of eight points by Catanoso and another five markers from Zavon Johnson (Trenton/West Windsor Plainsboro South). The Lions cut into the margin on the strength of a 13-4 run to make it 25-23 Stockton with 4:54 left in the period.
 
The squads traded baskets until the half ended with the Ospreys holding a 31-28 lead heading into the locker room. Three-pointers by Johnson and Blake Rossell (Margate/St. Augustine) accounted for the last six points for the Ospreys. Johnson paced Stockton with 10 first-half points.
 
The Ospreys started the second half with a 10-1 run highlighted by eight straight points from Brandon Hamilton (Camden/Paulsboro) as Stockton extended its lead to 41-29. They led by 12 at 45-33 after another bucket by Hamilton with 14:33 remaining. Once again, the visitors battled back, knotting the game at 54-54 at the 7:42 mark.
 
Two baskets from behind the arc by Catanoso and two foul shots by Kashaun Barnes (Toms River/Manchester Twp.) gave Stockton a 62-56 lead at 6:08 but that was the last points that they scored as the Lions tallied the final 10 points of the game. The Ospreys had chances down the stretch but went 0-9 from the floor while trailing by three points or less before a late TCNJ free throw clinched the outcome in the 66-62 setback..
 
Catanoso shot 7-11 from the field on the night, including 5-8 from behind the arc, on his way to his career night of 19 points. Hamilton added 14 points while Johnson scored all 10 markers, all in the first half. Darius Jerkins (Somers Point/Mainland) and Marcus Harmon (Whitesboro/Middle Twp.) grabbed nine rebounds each for the Ospreys.
 
TCNJ was led by Eric Murdock, Jr. who had game highs of 23 points and seven assists. Corey Stanford added 16 points while teammate Bobby Brackett chipped in with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
Stockton will play their first road tilt of the season on Saturday when they travel to Ramapo College an NJAC game at 1 p.m.