Mahwah, N.J. – Stockton University (9-7, 6-3 NJAC) scored the first seven points of the game and never looked back, defeating Ramapo (4-12, 3-6 NJAC) 76-68 for their third win in the last four games. The Ospreys reached the halfway point of the conference slate in a tie for third place.
 
Tayvon Gaither (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) led five Ospreys in double figures with a game-high 17 points. Gaither entered the game with 984 career points and became the 34th player to reach the 1,000-point milestone while wearing a Stockton uniform.
 
Justin Harper (Bridgeton/Wildwood Catholic) scored 15 markers followed by Charlie Bell (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian) with 14 points. Andrew Crawford (Haddon Hts./Camden Catholic) and Devon Johnson (Pine Hill/Overbrook) also hit double digits with 12 and 10 points respectively.
 
Harper scored eight quick points as Stockton raced out to a 15-2 lead in the first 4:18 of the game. The Ospreys had their largest lead of the period at 43-26 after a basket by Crawford in the closing seconds.
 
Stockton shot 54.5% (18-33) from the field including 41.2% (7-17) from three-point range. Most of the first-half scoring came from Harper with 11 points and Bell and Johnson with 10 points apiece.
 
The Ospreys continued to lead comfortably for most of the second half, with the margin peaking at 22 points on two occasions. Ramapo gradually chipped away and got as close as five points with 2:58 remaining. After two scoreless minutes Bell answered with a basket for Stockton that made it 72-65 with 43 seconds to play.
 
Gaither later hit the 1,000-point mark by sinking the first of two free throws with 19 seconds on the clock. The forward then sank his second attempt to close the scoring in the 76-68 triumph.
 
Elijah Barlow, Enoch Hutchinson, Orion Mickens and Isaish Chung tossed in 12 points apiece for Ramapo.
 
Stockton will host a key NJAC game against Kean University on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Stockton, Kean and TCNJ all are currently tied for third in the conference.