NCAA Tournament Final Four:
#6 Stockton 62, Franklin & Marshall 58

Kai Massaquoi

Omar Smith

Boxscore
Sixth-ranked Richard Stockton (30-2) advanced to the NCAA championship for the first time in school history with a 62-58 triumph over Franklin & Marshall (26-7). Kai Massaquoi (Lawnside/Haddon Hts.) and Omar Smith (Newark/Central) led Stockton with 20 points and seven rebounds apiece while Michael Farrow (Whitesboro/Middle Twp.) tallied 11 points and seven boards. The win, Stockton’s 18th in a row, came despite the Ospreys shooting just 3-21 (14.3%) from three-point range and just 55 percent (11-20) at the free throw line.

Stockton shot just 3-16, including 0-6 from three-point range while Franklin & Marshall opened up a 13-8 lead in a low-scoring first 10 minutes. The drought reached 0-8 from beyond the arc before Massaquoi finally drained Stockton’s first trey of the game with 3:25 left in the half. The three-pointer was part of a late 10-2 run that pulled Stockton into a 26-26 tie at the break.

Massaquoi carried the Ospreys with 15 first-half points. The Ospreys shot just 31.3 percent from the floor and 2-11 (18.2%) from three-point range, yet they stayed close by forcing 11 turnovers and holding Franklin & Marshall without a field goal for the final 2:22.

In the second half, Smith scored six early points as Stockton built a 36-32 lead. Franklin & Marshall responded with a 20-8 spurt and pulled ahead 52-44 with 6:15 remaining. Stockton fought back with a 13-4 run that gave the Ospreys a 57-56 lead after a Farrow layup with 2:04 to play. After two F&M free throws, a steal and layup by Farrow put the Ospreys back on top 59-58 with 48 seconds on the clock. Smith hit three free throws in the final 20 seconds to clinch the 62-58 victory.