Richard Stockton improves to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the NJAC, snapping a two-game losing streak. Rutgers-Camden falls to 4-2 and 0-1, ending a four-game winning streak which was the program’s longest since another four-game streak Nov. 24-Dec. 1, 2001.
The victory continued the Osprey’s dominance over the Scarlet Raptors. Stockton has won the last 44 head-to-head battles against Rutgers-Camden and now holds a 52-7 lead in the all-time series. Rutgers-Camden’s last win came on Jan. 25, 1984 by an 84-79 score at Stockton.
The lead changed hands four times in the opening half, with Stockton finally holding a 27-24 advantage at the break, led by six points apiece from Lancioni and junior guard Fran Kelly (Wildwood, NJ/Wildwood Catholic). For Rutgers-Camden, senior forward Sydney Francis (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) notched 11 first-half points.
The Ospreys scored the first five points of the second half, sparked by a trey from Kelly, and went on to outscore the Raptors, 18-8, in the opening five minutes, building their lead to 45-33. Rutgers-Camden never came closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
Stockton shot 77.8 percent (21-for-27) in the second half to finish 31-for-49 (63.3) for the game, while holding Rutgers-Camden to only 29.6 percent (16-for-54) from the field.
The Ospreys also held a slim 32-30 advantage off the boards, led by six rebounds from Brown.
Lancioni added a game-high five assists for Stockton.
For Rutgers-Camden, Francis and sophomore forward Antoine Miller (Camden, NJ/Medical Arts) each scored 13 points, while freshman guard Joshua Askew (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township) added 11. Senior guard Dane Nicholson (Pleasantville, NJ/Holy Spirit) collected seven rebounds to pace the Raptors.
The Ospreys return to action Friday at 6 p.m. against Neumann College in the opening game of the Messiah Invitational.
The Scarlet Raptors return to NJAC action with a 3 p.m. home game Saturday against William Paterson University, which is ranked No. 12 nationally in the latest d3hoops.com Top 25 poll.