Union, N.J. – Stockton University (1-3, 0-1 NJAC) was downed 79-71 by Kean University (3-2, 1-0 NJAC) in the first of 18 conference games that each team will play this season. Three Ospreys scored in double figures in the contest.
 
Andrew Crawford (Haddon Hts./Camden Catholic) produced career highs of 14 points and six rebounds plus a team-high five assists. Crawford shot 6-8 (75%) from the field and added two steals for the Ospreys.
 
Eriq Campbell (West Atco/Lindenwold) scored 12 points followed by Logan Mckee (Glen Mills, Pa./Phelps School) with 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Charlie Bell (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian) shot 4-8 (50%) from the floor and added nine markers.
 
Stockton held a 45-38 rebound advantage, including 18 offensive boards that they converted into 18 second chance points. The effort on the offensive glass resulted in 15 more field goal attempts than Kean took (73-58).
 
Campbell scored the first basket of the game for Stockton's only lead of the night. Despite nine first-half points by Mckee, the Ospreys faced a 40-33 deficit at halftime as Kean shot 51.9% (14-27) from the floor including 6-15 (40%) from three-point range.
 
In the second half, Stockton got within four at 43-39 on a Crawford layup and then 45-41 on a layup by Devon Johnson (Pine Hill/Overbrook), but the Ospreys could not overtake Kean.
 
Stockton nearly erased a 16-point deficit with a 26-13 run that made it a one-possession game at 74-71 on a layup by Bell with 44 seconds left. Crawford and Jahmir Payoute (Irvington/Snyder) sparked the comeback try with seven and six points respectively.
 
Kean held off the Ospreys by scoring the last five points of the game for the 79-71 final. Kareem Irby paced the Cougars with a game-high 22 points followed by Phil Brown Jr. with 18 markers and eight rebounds.
 
Stockton's next game will be at home against The College of New Jersey next Wednesday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m.