Wayne, NJ – Stockton University (4-3, 3-2 NJAC) played a close game with William Paterson (7-3, 4-1) for 30 minutes but could not overtake the Pioneers and suffered an 80-71 defeat. Three Ospreys scored in double figures, led by Brandon Hamilton (Camden/Paulsboro) with a season-high 18 points.
 
After missing the last three games due to injury, freshman Kyion Flanders (Wildwood/Wildwood) made a strong return with a career-high 16 points. Flanders was a perfect 5-5 at the line. Keenan Williams Jr. (Paulsboro/Paulsboro) went 4-4 at the stripe and finished with 12 points.
 
Shooting percentages were a key factor in the outcome. Stockton was an impressive 18-23 (78.3%) at the line but just 7-27 (25.9%) from three-point range in the game. William Paterson was even better on free throws, 22-27 (83.3%), and an impressive 8-17 (47.1%) from beyond the arc.
 
Stockton fell behind 7-0 before battling back to take its only lead of the game at 11-9 on a three-pointer by Tariq Baker (Brooklyn, NY/St. Anthony's). The Ospreys did not score for the next five minutes and fell behind 19-11.
 
Although Stockton pulled within three points on three occasions in the last nine minutes of the half, they could not regain the lead and trailed 37-30 at the break. Hamilton scored 11 first-half points but the Ospreys were hampered by 2-12 (16.7%) shooting from three-point range.
 
In the second half, Stockton got as close as 39-37 on a steal and dunk by Hamilton with 16:35 on the clock. William Paterson answered with four straight points to stay in front. After Flanders made it a one-possession game at 48-45 on a three-point play, the Pioneers created some separation with a 15-4 run that resulted in an insurmountable 63-49 deficit for the Ospreys with 9:51 to go.
 
Williams Jr. later sank a three-pointer with 1:36 remaining to make it 78-71, but the outcome had already been decided as Stockton fell to William Paterson 80-71.
 
Sean Smith hit five three-pointers and went 14-15 at the line on the way to a game-high 35 points for the Pioneers. Myles McLeod added a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds for the home team.
 
Stockton's next game will be on December 14 when the Ospreys play Kean University in an NJAC tilt at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall. Tipoff for the contest is 7:30 pm.