STOCKTON TOPS RUTGERS-NEWARK 63-56

Darnell McCargo

Boxscore

Richard Stockton (14-6, 8-1 NJAC) topped Rutgers-Newark (12-8, 5-4) 63-56 in an NJAC road game for its sixth consecutive victory and 11th in the last 12 contests. The Ospreys also clinched first place in the NJAC South Division with the win.

Darnell McCargo (Woodlynne/Collingswood) led Stockton with a team-high 17 points plus seven rebounds. Bill McDonough (Spring Lake/St. Rose) scored 13 points while DiAndre Brown (Sicklerville/Camden Co. Tech) contributed 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds.

The Ospreys shot just 35.4% but converted 16 offensive rebounds into 17 second-chance points and forced 18 turnovers that led to 18 points.

Stockton held the lead for 22 straight minutes before Rutgers-Newark’ Christian Garcia tied the game 52-52 with 4:27 to play. Kevin Johnson (Paulsboro/Paulsboro) answered with a jumper and Ibn Moye (Toms River/Central Regional) followed with a three-pointer for a 57-52 lead with 2:56 remaining. After a basket by Pedro Burgos, Johnson scored again on a layup and the Ospreys went 4-6 at the line in the last 33 seconds to seal the 63-56 win.

The teams traded hoops for most of the first half as the lead changed six times before Stockton assumed control late in the period. Brown scored six points to lead a 13-2 run over the last 7:22 of the period. The late spurt helped the Ospreys turn a three-point deficit into a 32-24 advantage at the break, and they stayed in front until the brief tie near the four-minute mark of the second half.