Jersey City, N.J. – Stockton University (14-8, 11-4 NJAC) reeled off 16 straight points in overtime for a key 87-78 road win after New Jersey City (11-11, 8-7) forced OT with a 28-footer at the buzzer. The victory kept the Ospreys in a tie for first place in the conference.
DJ Campbell (Vineland/Vineland) scored a game-high 22 points, the fourth 20-point effort of his freshman season, to lead Stockton. Campbell went 4-8 from three-point range and a perfect 8-8 at the line. He also grabbed seven rebounds.
Jordan Taylor (East Orange/Cicely Tyson) chipped in with 14 points and six boards while
Othniel Nyamekye (Irvington/Irvington) notched his second double-double of the season. Nyamekye scored 10 points on 5-10 shooting and tied his career high, which was set three days ago versus Rowan, with 13 rebounds. Stockton outrebounded NJCU 55-48 and outscored them 40-22 in the paint.
Campbell hit two free throws with six seconds left in regulation to give Stockton a 67-64 lead but NJCU's Tarique Holmes sank a dramatic 28-foot shot at the buzzer to force overtime at 67-67. After a scoreless 1:40 to open OT, the Gothic Knights went ahead 70-67 with a three-point play.
Stockton regrouped and scored the next 16 points, starting with jumpers by Campbell and then Taylor to give the Ospreys the lead for good at 71-70. After a blocked shot and rebound, both by Nyamekye, Campbell pulled up at the top of the key on a fast break and swished a three-pointer to make it 74-70.
The onslaught continued with baskets by
Kadian Dawkins (Eastampton/Rancocas Valley) and Nyamekye followed by a
Jordan Williams (Trenton/Trenton Central) three-pointer. Campbell capped the 16-0 run with two free throws that gave Stockton a commanding 83-70 advantage with 44 seconds to go. The rookie went 4-4 at the line in the last 21 ticks to close out the 87-78 triumph.
Earlier, Nyamekye sank two early layups to spark Stockton to a 12-4 lead and the Ospreys trailed for only 56 seconds the entire first half. After Taylor gave Stockton a 30-29 edge with a three-point play with 22 seconds left in the period, the Gothic Knights pulled ahead 32-30 on a last-second jumper.
Kyion Flanders (Wildwood/Wildwood) scored all seven of his points in the first half to lead Stockton.
The Ospreys fell behind 40-32 in the second half but battled back to take a 52-49 lead after Campbell sank two straight three-pointers to cap an 11-0 run. The game was tied five times in the last 6:35, with the last one coming on Holmes' deep three at the buzzer.
After a scoreless first half, Campbell scored 11 points in the second half and 11 more in overtime to lead Stockton to victory. The Ospreys shot 6-9 (66.7%) from the floor and Campbell went 6-6 from the line in the extra period.
Stockton will host Kean University on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
