Union, NJ – Stockton University (14-10, 8-9 NJAC) saw its NJAC playoff hopes dealt a blow with a 94-72 setback at Kean University (7-17, 5-12) in the next-to-last game of the regular season. The Cougars shot 54.2 percent from the floor, and their 94 points were the second-most that any team has scored against the Ospreys this season.
Kashaun Barnes (Toms River/Manchester Twp.) topped four Stockton players in double figures with 18 points.
Kelvin Tull (Millville/Millville) went 4-6 from three-point range and tossed in 16 markers. Barnes and Tull also tied for the team lead with seven rebounds apiece.
Zavon Johnson (Trenton/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) scored 13 points and dished a career-high seven assists while
Jordan Taylor (East Orange/Cicely Tyson) contributed 11 points. Barnes, Johnson and Taylor each sank three three-pointers for the Ospreys, who shot a strong 42.4 percent (14-33) from downtown.
Three early three-pointers by Johnson kept the Ospreys within three at 16-13 in the first six minutes. Kean continued scoring at a fast pace and led by as much as 11 late in the first half. A three-point play by
Blake Rossell (Margate/St. Augustine) and three-pointer by Tull helped Stockton close the gap to 50-43 at the break.
After the Ospreys scored the first five points of the second half to get to 50-48, the Cougars used a 14-3 run to put Stockton in a 64-51 hole. Two three-pointers by Tull and five points by Barnes accounted for an 11-0 outburst that quickly brought Stockton within 64-62.
The margin shrunk to two on two more occasions in the next minute, but the Ospreys could not get over the hump. Stockton faltered down the stretch and was outscored 23-4 in the last 7:06 to suffer the 94-72 defeat.
Stockton is one of three teams, along with Rowan and William Paterson, fighting for the last two spots in the NJAC tournament. The Ospreys end the regular season with a home game against New Jersey City at 8 pm. The NJAC playoff bracket will be finalized at the conclusion of Wednesday's conference games.
