Galloway, N.J. – Stockton University (21-3, 15-2 NJAC) extended its win streak to a season-high seven games with a hard-fought 74-61 victory over New Jersey City (11-13, 6-11) in the final regular season home game for the Ospreys.
DJ Campbell (Vineland/Vineland) and
Kadian Dawkins (Eastampton/Rancocas Valley) led five Stockton players in double figures with 14 points apiece. Campbell also added nine rebounds and four assists.
Dawkins dealt four helpers to tie the school record of 367 career assists by Jermaine Clay from 1990-94.
Kyion Flanders (Wildwood/Wildwood) contributed 13 points followed by
Tayvon Gaither (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) and
Jonathan Azoroh (Ewing/Ewing) with 11 points apiece.
Azoroh tied Campbell for the team lead with nine rebounds. Neither team shot particularly well from the field, but Stockton helped its cause by going 20-25 (80%) at the free throw line.
Dawkins scored eight points during a 16-4 run that helped the Ospreys build a 31-15 lead. The margin reached 18 at 36-18 on a layup by Gaither, but NJCU closed with a 9-3 spurt to make it 39-27 Stockton at the half. Gaither paced the Ospreys with nine points followed by Campbell and Dawkins with eight apiece.
Stockton went cold in the second half, shooting just 33.3 percent from the field (8-24) and 18.2 percent from three-point range (2-11). Leading 53-40, the Ospreys went scoreless for 4:52 while NJCU tallied 11 straight points. The score later was tied 55-55 and 58-58 before Stockton took control.
Three free throws by Campbell followed by three points from Flanders made it 64-58 with 2:14 remaining. The Ospreys led by at least five for the final two minutes and Flanders punctuated the 74-61 win with a breakaway dunk at the 22-mark to seal Stockton's seventh consecutive win.
Kayton Darley led the Gothic Knights with a game-high 19 points. Will Brown III scored nine markers and Yvens Monfleury grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for NJCU.
Stockton, which has clinched the No. 2 seed for the NJAC Tournament, will finish the regular season with a conference road game at Kean University on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
