STOCKTON RALLIES TO DEFEAT ROWAN 63-54

Bill McDonough

Boxscore

Richard Stockton (11-6, 5-1 NJAC) rallied from a 16-point deficit in the second half and defeated Rowan (8-9, 2-4) 63-54 for their third straight win and eighth in the last nine games. Bill McDonough (Spring Lake/St. Rose) spurred the Ospreys with game highs of 21 points and 15 rebounds.

Ibn Moye (Toms River/Central Regional) gave Stockton a lift off the bench with a season-high 13 points off the bench and Darnell McCargo (Woodlynne/Collingswood) chipped in with 10 points and six boards. The Ospreys found a way to win despite shooting just 37.9% from the field, including a chilly 4-17 (23.5%) from three-point range.

Stockton struggled in the first half, connecting at a 32.3% clip and hitting just two of its 11 three-point attempts. Rowan capitalized by jumping out to an 18-6 lead in the first eight minutes. The Ospreys later closed within 21-17 on a three-point play by DiAndre Brown (Sicklerville/Camden Co. Tech), but Rowan rebuilt its 12-point advantage before the half ended with Stockton trailing 35-25.

Rowan’s lead reached 16 points twice in the first four minutes of the second half before the Ospreys elevated their game with a furious rally. Stockton forced 12 turnovers in the second half and outscored the Profs 35-10 in the last 16 minutes of the game. McDonough and Moye sparked the comeback with 13 and 11 points respectively after intermission.

Stockton reeled off eight straight points, including four free throws by McDonough, to make the score 48-41. After a Rowan basket, Moye hit consecutive three-pointers as Stockton closed the gap to three at 50-47. Rowan answered with a layup but Moye followed with a three-point play that ignited a game-clinching 16-0 run. McCargo provided the exclamation point with a steal and dunk at the 33-second mark that capped the 63-54 come-from-behind triumph.