Chester, Pa. – Stockton University (1-0) heated up in the second half and rallied for an 80-77 victory over Catholic University (1-1) in the season opener at the Widener University Tip-Off for Autism Awareness. The Ospreys trailed by 20 with 15:20 left before outscoring the Cardinals 47-24 the rest of the way.
 
Sophomore Devon Johnson (Pine Hill/Overbrook) shot 6-10 (60%) from three-point range and scored a career-high 21 points in just 19 minutes played. Johnson led the comeback with 18 points in the second half.
 
EJ Matthews-Spratley (Cherry Hill/CH East) tossed in 19 points and added six assists and five rebounds. Tayvon Gaither (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) also hit double digits with 14 points plus a team-high seven rebounds. Jamar Johnson (Penns Grove/Penns Grove) dished a career-high seven assists.
 
Stockton trailed 53-33 with 15:20 left in the game before unleashing a 47-point barrage the rest of the way. A layup by Martin Anguelov (Cape May/Wildwood Catholic) at the 6:49 mark gave Stockton its first lead since the opening minutes at 62-60.
 
A three-pointer by Johnson with 5:02 on the clock put the Ospreys on top 67-63, and the margin was three points or less for the next four minutes, with Stockton maintaining a slim lead. The Ospreys went 6-8 at the line in the final 59 seconds to seal the 80-77 triumph.
 
Stockton shot just 4-18 (22.2%) from three-point range in the first half and trailed 41-29 at the break but turned it around by going 6-11 (54.5%) from beyond the arc and hitting 53.6% (15-28) from the field overall in the second half.
 
Stockton will play in the championship game of the Widener Tip-Off for Autism Awareness tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. against either host Widener or Hamilton College (N.Y.).