No. 10 Richard Stockton (25-2) won its second straight New Jersey Athletic
Conference championship by defeating Rutgers-Newark (16-12) 62-54.
Kai
Massaquoi (6'2''-G) (Lawnside/Haddon Hts.) led all scorers with 21 points
and the sophomore also hit 9-of-11 shots from the foul line.
Omar
Smith (6'3''-F) (Newark/Central) added 15 points and collected a team-high
eight rebounds. The victory marked the Ospreys' sixth NJAC title and earned them
an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The game was back-and-forth during the entire first half, with neither team
holding a lead larger than five. Massaquoi scored 12 of Stockton's first 19
points as the Ospreys jumped on top 19-15. Two free throws by Massaquoi later
produced the biggest margin of the period at 25-20, but the half fittingly ended
in a 31-31 tie that was the seventh deadlock of the first 20 minutes.
Stockton maintained a slim lead throughout the second half and expanded its
cushion to five points on three occasions. A bucket by Massaquoi gave the
Ospreys a 49-44 lead with 6:30 remaining.
Michael Farrow (6'2''-G) (Whiteside/Middle Twp.) sank a layup for a 51-46
advantage with 3:45 to play and Farrow later hit two free throws that put
Stockton on top 53-48 with 3:45 on the clock.
The Ospreys finally created some breathing room in the final minute when an
intentional foul followed by a technical foul gave Stockton four consecutive
free throws. Massaquoi swished two and
Santini Lancioni (5'9''-G) (Runnemede/Paul VI) hit one to give Stockton a
57-50 lead. The Ospreys then went 5-6 at the line in the final 24 seconds to
clinch their 13th straight win and second consecutive NJAC title, 62-54.
Courtesy of Stockton.edu
Tournament Final: Richard Stockton - Rutgers-Newark 62-54 Tournament Semifinals:
Richard Stockton - William Paterson 83-67
Rutgers-Newark - Montclair St. 58-57
Matthews
No. 10 Richard Stockton (25-2) won its second straight New Jersey Athletic
Conference championship by defeating Rutgers-Newark (16-12) 62-54.
