Newark, N.J. – Stockton University (10-5, 7-1 NJAC) held Rutgers-Newark (10-5, 6-2) to just 20 points in the second half and won a matchup between the top two defensive teams in the conference 54-47. The seven-point final margin was Stockton's largest lead of the game.
 
Kyion Flanders (Wildwood/Wildwood) went 9-10 at the line and finished with 15 points as the lone Osprey in double figures. Jordan Taylor (East Orange/Cicely Tyson) was the next highest scorer with seven points in the defensive battle.
 
Rutgers-Newark and Stockton entered the game ranked first and second respectively in the NJAC in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense. As expected, points were hard to come by, with the teams holding each other to less than 40 percent from the field and less than 22 percent from three-point range.
 
Stockton fell behind 13-5 in the first five minutes, but the deficit would be the largest of the game for the Ospreys. Stockton later scored three straight baskets for a slim 19-16 edge that was their biggest of the half.
 
Overall, the period featured six lead changes and ended with Rutgers-Newark on top by one, 27-26. Flanders paced Stockton with seven first-half points followed by Kadian Dawkins (Eastampton/Rancocas Valley) with six markers.
 
The game remained tight throughout the second half. Stockton crept out to a 38-33 lead on a basket by Taylor at the 12-minute mark that capped a 7-0 spurt. The margin later was six, 46-40, after Tariq Baker (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Anthony's) sank a three-pointer with 6:17 on the clock.
 
The Scarlet Raiders answered with five straight points to make it 46-45 before Flanders sandwiched four free throws around a bucket by Baker for a game-clinching 6-0 run that resulted in a 52-45 lead in the final minute. Flanders added two more from the stripe in the closing seconds to seal the 54-47 triumph.
 
Stockton will play three of its next four games at home, starting with a match against Montclair State on Saturday at 1 p.m.