Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (11-6, 5-5 NJAC) turned up the defense in the second half and won a hard fought 74-68 contest over Rowan University (8-9, 4-6 NJAC) on Wednesday night. Kelvin Tull (Millville/Millville) topped all players with a career-high 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Ospreys. Stockton held the Profs to just 32.9 % (24-73) shooting on the evening.
 
Rowan started quickly and held the lead for most of the first 20 minutes of play. The Profs opened up a 20-11 margin before Stockton began to chip away at the lead. A 7-2 run closed the margin to 22-18 with 8:08 left in the frame. Four points by Tull and a basket by Darius Jerkins (Somers Point/Mainland) helped the cause.
 
Stockton still trailed 26-20 in the waning minutes of the period when they ended the frame on a 13-6 run to lead 33-32 at the break. A pair of three-pointers by Jordan Taylor (East Orange/Cicely Tyson)
highlighted the run.
 
The Ospreys took the lead for good early in the second half on a Tull jumper and a Jerkins layup to give the home team the lead at 39-35 at the 18:45 mark. Stockton stretched the margin to nine on six points by Kevin Allen (Atlantic City/Atlantic City) and another bomb from Taylor, giving Stockton a 53-44 advantage with 12:55 remaining in regulation.
 
Rowan tried to make a run but Stockton kept the Profs at bay. Stockton grabbed their biggest lead of the night at 63-51 with 6:25 left in the game. Stockton stretched the margin on five points from Zavon Johnson (Trenton/West Windsor-Plainsboro South), a three-ball from Allen and a tip-in by Jerkins.
 
The Profs fought back once again, closing to three points on two different occasions, the last with 49 seconds left, down 71-68. However a foul shot by Tull and a pair from the charity stripe by Allen closed out the game at 74-68, to give Stockton their second consecutive victory.
 
Tull led four different Ospreys in double figures with his 19 points. He also blocked three shots, dished a career-high five assists and pilfered two steals. Allen scored a career-high 12 markers while Johnson and Jerkins chipped in with 10 points each.
 
Ramon Wright topped Rowan with 18 points and a game-high four steals. TJ Booth closely followed him with 17 points and a team-high nine boards, with Rob DePersia adding 10 markers.
 
Stockton next contest will be on the road as the Ospreys will face Ramapo in Mahwah on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is set for 1 pm.