New York, N.Y. – Stockton University (17-11) was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament with a 59-55 defeat to Tufts University (20-7) in a first round game at NYU. The loss brought Stockton's season to an end after the Ospreys earned their third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth.
 
Tayvon Gaither (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) led Stockton with a game-high 15 points and team highs of eight rebounds and four assists. EJ Matthews-Spratley (Cherry Hill/CH East) totaled 14 points, six rebounds and three steals while playing all 40 minutes. Jalen Collins (Blackwood/Triton) also hit double figures with 12 points.
 
The Ospreys started slowly and fell behind 14-4 before regrouping with a 14-5 run that was keyed by two three-pointers from Matthews-Spratley. A jumper by Collins later tied the game at 27-27 with 4:34 left in the first half. After two more ties, Tufts pulled ahead 34-31.
 
Two free throws by Matthews-Spratley followed by a three-pointer by DJ Campbell (Vineland/Vineland) at the six-second mark took Stockton into the break with a 36-34 edge that was their first lead since the opening 90 seconds.
 
The offenses slowed to a crawl in the second half. Stockton shot just 20.8% (5-24) from the field including 0-8 from three-point range and put up only 19 points. Still, the Ospreys had opportunities as they held Tufts to only 25 counters.
 
Collins hit two free throws with 10:55 on the clock to cap a 7-0 spurt that gave Stockton its largest lead at 46-39. The Ospreys still led 50-44 after a layup by Gaither with 9:28 remaining, but they scored just five points the rest of the way.
 
Campbell sank a free throw with 2:09 left for a 54-53 edge that was Stockton's last of the game. Matthews-Spratley tied it 55-55 on a free throw with 1:44 to play, however Tufts took the lead for good with a basket on its next possession. Stockton had a shot to tie and missed, then two free throws by the Jumbos closed out the Ospreys 59-55.
 
Stockton played in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year and 19th time in the program's 52 seasons. Campbell finished with eight markers and ended his career as Stockton's all-time leading scorer with 2,178 points as well as a school-record 335 three-pointers.