Boxscore

Mahwah, NJ – Stockton University (2-3, 0-3 NJAC) fell victim to a six-minute scoring slump in the second half that sealed its fate in an 86-69 defeat to unbeaten Ramapo (6-0, 3-0). Brandon Hamilton (Camden/Paulsboro) went 4-8 from three-point range and scored a team-high 17 points for the Ospreys.
 
Tom Catanoso (Cape May CH/Middle Twp.) tossed in 15 points and added game highs of six steals and four assists while Khaliq Ford (Millville/Millville) came off the bench to score 12 points. The Ospreys shot 51.1 percent from the field and 75 percent at the line but were undone by 32 turnovers.
 
The first half was tight, with seven lead changes. Stockton got off to a strong start, building a 12-7 lead on the strength of five early points by Catanoso. The Ospreys had their biggest advantage at 17-11 after a basket by Marcus Harmon (Whitesboro/Middle Twp.) but they could not sustain the momentum.
 
Ramapo surged ahead 21-17 with 10 straight points. After six lead changes as the teams traded baskets, Stockton was outscored 11-4 in the last 1:54 of the half and trailed 42-34 at the break. Ford and Catanoso led the Ospreys with 10 and eight points respectively.
 
Stockton began the second half with a three-point barrage as Hamilton sank three treys while Harmon and Zavon Johnson (Trenton/West Windsor Plainsboro South) drained one apiece as the Ospreys pulled ahead 51-49. The game was tied three times in the next 5:17 before the Stockton offense stalled.
 
Three free throws by Catanoso were Stockton's only points during a six-minute span that proved to be the difference. Ramapo used a 23-3 run to turn a tie game into an 80-60 deficit that resulted in an 86-69 defeat for the Ospreys.
 
Stockton returns home to host Rutgers-Camden in an NJAC game at The Sports Center on Wednesday at 6 p.m.