Huntingdon, PA – Stockton University (4-2, 3-1 NJAC) used a balanced attack and never trailed on the way to a 69-65 victory over Bethany (WV) (1-9) in the first round of the Comfort Inn Juniata College Holiday Tournament. The Ospreys moved on the tourney championship tomorrow at 4 pm.
Jordan Taylor (East Orange/Cicely Tyson) led Stockton with a team-high 16 points and a career-high eight rebounds. Taylor shot 3-5 (60%) from three-point range.
Kyion Flanders (Wildwood/Wildwood) also hit double figures with 11 points and swiped a game-high four steals. The Ospreys scored 23 points off 20 Bethany turnovers, and they netted 38 points in the paint.
Taylor hit a three-pointer and Flanders followed with two straight layups to cap a nine-point burst that gave Stockton a 15-3 lead. Bethany closed the gap to three before the Ospreys created some separation late in the half. A three-point play by Flanders with eight seconds left gave Stockton a 40-30 advantage at the break. Flanders finished with nine first-half points.
Brandon Hamilton (Camden/Paulsboro) opened the second stanza with a three-pointer that upped the margin to its biggest of the game at 43-30. Bethany then outscored the Ospreys 16-7 over the next nine minutes to reduce the gap to four at 50-46.
Later, the Bison got within one point five times in the last five minutes but Stockton answered each challenge. After Flanders sank a layup with 1:27 left to boost the edge to 66-63, Bethany answered with a basket to make it 66-65 with 1:13 to go.
A missed shot by Stockton and turnover by the Bison gave the Ospreys the ball with a one-point lead and 40 seconds on the clock. The possession resulted in a game-clinching three-pointer by
Kadian Dawkins (Eastampton/Rancocas Valley) with 23 seconds remaining that sealed the 69-65 victory for the Ospreys.
Hamilton and
Steve Ferebee (Galloway/Absegami) each contributed nine points followed by
Othniel Nyamekye with eight markers and seven rebounds. Bethany's Aiden Albert shot a blistering 6-9 from three-point range and led all players with 28 points.
Stockton will play either Randolph (VA) or Juniata in the championship game of the Comfort Inn Juniata College Holiday Tournament tomorrow at 4 pm.
