Boxscore

Montclair, NJ – Stockton University (19-6, 14-4 NJAC) rallied from a 13-point deficit in the second half and defeated Montclair State (11-14, 7-11) 83-80. With the win, the Ospreys grabbed the No. 2 seed for the NJAC tournament and a first-round bye via tiebreaker over Rutgers-Newark.
 
Four Stockton players reached double figures, led by Maurice Hart (Asbury Park/Asbury Park) with 22 points, his second-highest total of the season. Jaymere Hadden (Millville/Millville) scored 20 points followed by Armin Cane (Pleasantville/Pleasantville) with 19. Marcus Harmon (Whitesboro/Middle Twp.) rounded out the quartet with 14 markers.
 
Stockton led for just 1:40 in the game, pulling ahead late after trailing for most of the night, a total of 34:52. The Ospreys forced 27 turnovers that they converted into 24 points. Hadden tallied four of the team's 12 steals followed by Hart with three.
 
An early three-pointer by Tom Catanoso (Cape May CH/middle Twp.) gave Stockton its only lead of the first half at 3-2 but Montclair State regained the advantage 15 seconds later. The Red Hawks used a 14-4 run late in the half to open up a 43-32 lead before a three-pointer by Hart with seven seconds left made it 43-35 Montclair at the break. Hart paced the Ospreys with 15 first-half points.
 
Stockton faced its biggest deficit at 52-39 with 14:47 to play and still trailed 70-59 with 6:56 on the clock. Cane scored seven points during a 14-2 run that rocketed the Osprey ahead 73-72 at the 2:29 mark. Montclair State regained the lead 75-73 on a three-point play 10 seconds later.
 
The Ospreys tied the game on a layup by Cane and took the lead for good at 77-75 on a jumper by Hadden with 1:15 left. Stockton then went 6-8 at the line in the final minute to seal the 83-80 triumph.
 
After a bye in the first round, Stockton will host an NJAC tournament semifinal game next Wednesday, February 24 at 7 p.m.