Glassboro, N.J. – Stockton University (22-5) was defeated 103-88 by Rowan University (22-5) in the NJAC championship game. The Ospreys, who played in the NJAC title game for the fourth straight year, were unable to match the physicality and offensive firepower of the Profs.
Rynell Lawrence (Millville/Millville) led four Ospreys in double figures with 16 points followed by freshman
Tayvon Gaither (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) with career highs of 15 points and eight rebounds.
Kyion Flanders (Wildwood/Wildwood) netted 11 markers and freshman
Diante Miles (Wildwood/Wildwood) came off the bench to tie his career high with 11 points in the second half.
In the first half, consecutive three-pointers by
Martin Anguelov (Cape May/Wildwood Catholic) and Lawrence turned a 17-17 tie into a 23-17 lead that was Stockton's biggest of the game.
Rowan responded by scoring the next 12 points to jump back on top 29-23. After a Lawrence layup, the Profs reeled off six more points to make it 33-25.
Stockton's deficit grew to 12 before settling at 40-31 when the half ended. Lawrence topped the Ospreys with 13 first-half points followed by Anguelov with nine markers.
Rowan ratcheted up the offense in the second half, shooting 51.4 percent from the field including 56.3 percent (9-16) from three-point range.
Kyion Flanders (Wildwood/Wildwood) scored the first four points of the period to pull Stockton within 40-35 but that was as close as the Ospreys would come.
Rowan tallied the next eight points for a 48-35 count with 17:36 remaining and Stockton never threatened again. The 103-88 loss denied the Ospreys their second straight NJAC championship and 11th in program history. Three of Stockton's five losses this season came against a Rowan team that led the NJAC standings all season.
Despite the loss, Stockton is expected to receive an at-large NCAA Tournament berth when the bracket is announced via an online selection show on Monday afternoon. The Ospreys won two NCAA Tournament games to reach the third round (Sweet 16) last year.
