Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (13-9, 7-8 NJAC) shot 55.9% (19-34) in the second half and ran past Montclair State 89-81 on Saturday afternoon for their second consecutive victory. Kashaun Barnes (Toms River/Manchester Twp.) led all players with a career-high 37 points, including 24 in the decisive second half.
 
The Red Hawks scored the first four points of the game to start before Stockton reeled off the next 11 markers. Barnes tallied six of the points for an 11-4 advantage. Montclair State answered with a 14-2 spurt to take an 18-13 lead with 10:17 to play in the half, and the Red Hawks kept the lead through the rest of the period, which ended with Stockton trailing 39-30.
 
Stockton came out of the break on a tear as Barnes and Zavon Johnson (Trenton/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) dropped three-pointers to bring Stockton to 40-38 at 17:10 to play. Montclair stretched the margin to 55-49 before an 8-2 run, spurred by five points by Johnson, tied it for the second time of the game at 57 apiece with 9:07 to play.
 
The squads traded baskets until a three-ball by Jordan Taylor (East Orange/Cicely Tyson) gave Stockton the lead for good at 72-70 with 3:45 remaining. The Red Hawks made one final push, closing the lead to 81-79 with 38 seconds to play.
 
The Ospreys sealed the game with a perfect 8-8 from the foul line in the last 33 seconds as four by Johnson and two apiece by Kelvin Tull (Millville/Millville) Steve Ferebee (Galloway/Absegami) finished the contest with Stockton prevailing 89-81.
 
Barnes' 37-point outburst included 14-23 from the field, 5-9 from behind the three-point line and 4-5 from the charity stripe. The junior also dished four assists and committed just two turnovers while playing all 40 minutes. Barnes' total was the most by a Stockton player since Carl Cochran scored 41 points against Chapman on December 27, 1996.
 
Johnson added 21 points and three assists while Taylor chipped in with 11 markers and three assists. Darius Jerkins (Somers Point/Mainland) grabbed seven rebounds and two steals to top the Ospreys.
 
Myles Mitchell-White topped Montclair State with 20 points and five assists to tie Kaan Yilmaz for game-high honors. Teammate Joseph Radi added 14 points and Jarrett Bogus pulled down a game-high eight boards for the Red Hawks.
 
Stockton will play their next game on the road when the Ospreys travel to Rutgers-Newark on Wednesday evening. Tip-off is set for 8 pm.