Union, NJ – Stockton University (10-5, 6-2 NJAC) used balanced scoring to defeat Kean University (7-8, 4-4 NJAC) 85-80 on Wednesday night. EJ Matthews-Spratley (Cherry Hill/Cherry Hill East) led a quintet of Ospreys in double figures with 20 points, 14 in the second half, as Stockton extended their winning streak to four games.
 
The contest started with a high pace as both squads shot well from the floor for the first 20 minutes of play. Stockton squeezed out a 23-22 lead at the 10:18 mark, then sprinted off on a 12-6 run to stretch the lead to 35-26, forcing Kean into a time out with 6:24 left in the half.
 
A pair of threes by Martin Anguelov (Cape May/Wildwood Catholic) and another by Jalen Collins (Blackwood/Triton) spurred the Ospreys. Kean used the break well, answering with a 7-0 run cutting the lead to 35-33 with 4:34 left. But Stockton responded by finishing the half on a 13-4 spurt to take a 48-39 lead into the locker room.
 
Collins led the Ospreys with 11 markers, with Anguelov and DJ Campbell (Vineland/Vineland) potting 10 points each, as Stockton shot 58.1 % (18-31) to offset the Cougars'15-33 (48.5%) from the field.
 
The Cougars stayed hot to start the second half, rattling off nine straight points in 2:29, including a pair of three balls to knot the game at 48-48, sending Stockton to a timeout. Another Kean basket made it 50-48 in favor of the home team before Campbell ended the run with a three pointer.
 
Stockton would methodically take control of the game shortly after the Cougars run. With the game knotted at 53 all with 14:46 remaining, the Ospreys slowly pulled away, extending the margin to as many as 12 points over the final minutes.
 
The Cougars made one last charge in the closing 2:36. With Stockton leading by 77-65, the home team got to within 83-80, before time ran out in the 85-80 win for the Ospreys.
 
In addition to Matthews-Spratley, Campbell scored 17 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Christian Armstrong-Thomas (Marlton/Cherokee) chipped in with a creer-high 14 points. Anguelov scored 12 points with team-highs of four assists and three steals, with Collins adding 11, all in the first half, rounding out the quintet of scorers.
 
Kean also placed five players in double figures with D.J. Alicea scoring 20 points to lead the team. Justin Morton had 18, with Brandon Upshaw adding 15 points. Tyler Spencer and JD Daniels tallied 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Stockton will return home on Saturday to face New Jersey City at home. Game time is set for 1 pm.