| Men's Basketball (1/14/12) |
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STOCKTON OUTLASTS NEW JERSEY CITY 55-48 |
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Richard Stockton (10-6, 4-1 NJAC) prevailed 55-48 over New Jersey City (12-3, 3-2) in a defensive slugfest in which both teams shot under 37% from the field. Kevin Johnson (Paulsboro/Paulsboro) led the Ospreys with a game-high 13 points. Johnson went 7-8 at the line, including 6-6 in the last five minutes, and Stockton finished 18-22 (81.8%) at the stripe for the game. DiAndre Brown (Sicklerville/Camden Co. Tech) also reached double digits with 11 points for the Ospreys. Bill McDonough (Spring Lake/St. Rose) battled against New Jersey City’s tall frontcourt players, three of whom are 6-foot-8, and finished with seven points and a game-high nine rebounds. Stockton forced 23 turnovers, including 14 in the second half. Taquan Abdullah paced New Jersey City with 11 points and five rebounds while Walik Albright tossed in 10 markers for the Gothic Knights, who had their three-game winning streak snapped with the loss. Abdullah scored seven early points as NJCU raced out to a 16-6 lead in the first seven minutes. Stockton rallied into a 23-23 halftime tie as the Gothic Knights put just seven points on the board in the next 13 minutes. Rich Suhr (Toms River/TR East) led the charge with six first-half points for the Ospreys. Stockton took control in the second half as New Jersey City struggled offensively. After Albright tallied the first three points of the period, the Gothic Knights went scoreless for seven minutes. McDonough scored five points during an 11-0 run that gave the Ospreys a 34-26 advantage. Stockton led by eight again at 41-33 on a jumper by Suhr at the five-minute mark. After the teams each hit a pair of free throws, Albright sank two three-pointers and a free throw during a 7-2 spurt that brought NJCU within 45-42 with 2:48 on the clock. Stockton stayed in front by getting a couple of baskets in transition and shooting 6-6 at the line down the stretch, including 4-4 by Johnson in the last 1:16 to clinch the 55-48 triumph. |
