Newark, NJ – Stockton University (14-9, 8-8 NJAC) shot just 29.1 percent from the floor but found a way to dig out a key conference victory as the Ospreys topped Rutgers-Newark (8-14, 4-12) 61-57. Stockton outscored the Scarlet Raptors 21-5 at the free throw line. Kelvin Tull (Millville/Millville) led the Ospreys to their third straight win with his third double-double of the season.
 
Tull scored a career-high 20 points and tallied game highs of 10 rebounds and four steals. Kashaun Barnes (Toms River/Manchester Twp.), the reigning NJAC Player of the Week, and Jordan Taylor (East Orange/Cicely Tyson) tossed in 10 points apiece. Barnes also contributed seven rebounds and five assists while Taylor grabbed six boards.
 
Stockton raced out to a 21-7 lead in the first 9:10, capped by five straight points by Tull. Kevin Allen (Atlantic City/Atlantic City) and Zavon Johnson (Trenton/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) each sank four free throws during the fast start. The Ospreys led by at least seven the rest of the half and took a 35-22 lead into the locker room after Barnes ended the scoring with a three-pointer in the final minute.
 
The lead was back to 14 at 38-24 after a three-point play by Tull 37 seconds into the second half. Stockton then scored just 11 points in the next 13 minutes as Rutgers-Newark battled back to take a 51-49 lead with 5:40 on the clock. Barnes answered with five straight points before a Mark Thomas three-pointer tied it 54-54 with 4:15 to go.
 
After nearly two scoreless minutes, Tull gave Stockton the lead for good with a free throw at the 2:29 mark. Two from the stripe by Barnes and one by Taylor extended the advantage to 58-54 down the stretch. Tyler Ofray hit a three-pointer with eight ticks left to make it a one-possession game at 58-57, but Tull went 3-4 at the line in the closing seconds to seal the 61-57 victory.
 
Stockton will take its fight for an NJAC playoff berth on the road again on Saturday for another important conference game, which will be at Kean University at 1 pm.