Ewing, N.J. – Stockton University (18-9) saw its quest for the program's 10th NJAC title come up short with a 75-60 defeat to top-seeded The College of New Jersey (19-8). The No. 2 seed Ospreys fell behind by double digits in the first half, and although the effort was there, they could not overcome the deficit.
 
Kyion Flanders (Wildwood/Wildwood) led Stockton with 17 points followed by DJ Campbell with 11 markers. In his final college game, senior Jordan Taylor (East Orange/Cicely Tyson) tossed in nine points. The Ospreys shot 17-23 (73.9%) from the free throw line but just 3-17 (17.6%) from three-point range.
 
Stockton led 11-8 after a Campbell jumper that forced TCNJ into a timeout. The Lions then used a 16-4 run to put the Ospreys in a 24-15 hole. Stockton struggled to put the ball in the basket early, shooting just 6-22 from the floor (27.2%) including 1-7 (14.3%) from three-point range in the first 13 minutes.
 
TCNJ added to its lead with a 13-6 run that put the Ospreys down 37-21. A late basket by Flanders made it 37-23 at the half. Stockton's 23 points were its lowest first-half total of the season. The Ospreys finished at 30 percent (9-30) from floor and 1-9 (11.1%) from three-point range with 11 turnovers.
 
Taylor paced Stockton with seven points followed by Flanders and Campbell with six markers as the trio accounted for all but four of Stockton's 23 first-half points. Taylor and Campbell were a combined 4-6 from the floor and 4-6 at the line in the half.
 
A Flanders layup opened the second half scoring and closed the gap to 12 at 37-25, but the Ospreys could not make up any more ground and TCNJ broke out to a 49-31 advantage. Flanders later scored six straight points followed by a Taylor basket to pull Stockton within 52-42 with 9:50 remaining.
 
The Ospreys could get no closer. The Lions responded with four straight points and Stockton's deficit stayed at 12 or more for the rest of the game and fell 75-60 to finish as the NJAC Tournament runner-up.
 
Stockton gelled into a deep and balanced team that finished the season with an 18-9 record. The Ospreys were ranked seventh in the NJAC preseason coaches poll but tied for first in the conference with a 14-4 mark. They dispatched Rowan 96-82 in the NJAC semifinals to advance to the conference title game for the first time since winning the crown in 2016.