GALLOWAY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University led by 11 at halftime but without two starters, couldn't maintain the lead in the second half against three-time defending conference champion Stockton which outscored the No. 24 ranked Gothic Knights, 42-26 in the final 20 minutes. Tied at 63-63 with under two minutes remaining, Stockton hit a dagger three with 34 seconds left and upset NJCU, 70-65, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game at the Stockton Sports Center.
 
With 2:22 remaining, senior point guard Ata Robinson (Newark, N.J./East Side) tied the game at 63-63. After the Ospreys hit a foul shot with 1:52 to play, Robinson went to the line in a 1-and-1 situation with 59 seconds left but could not convert, and Stockton's Tom Catanoso buried a three with 34 seconds left for a four-point, 67-63 advantage, before he later iced the game with a pair of free throws with 24 seconds to go.
 
The loss is the second in three games for NJCU (12-3, 6-2 NJAC), which is nationally ranked for the second week in a row. Stockton is 8-5 (3-4 NJAC). NJCU led 39-28 at the half.
 
The Gothic Knights were playing without reigning NJAC Defensive Player of the Year and graduate student power forward Chinwe Wosu (Jersey City, N.J./University Academy Charter) and junior small forward Kevin Brown (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth), two starters who are keys to a defense which came into the day ranked No. 3 nationally in scoring defense and No. 1 in three-point percentage defense. The tandem are two of NJCU's top three rebounders and among the team's top four scorers, and their absence was felt.
 
Stockton had four players in double figures, led by Catanoso with 15 points (4-8 FG), including 4-of-7 three-point shooting with three assists in 36 minutes.
 
Sophomore center Yuri Brutus (Roselle Park, N.J./Roselle Park) was NJCU's only player in double figures, coming off the bench to score 11 points (4-7 FG, 3-4 FT) in 26 minutes.
 
Senior shooting guard Jalen Harris (Brandywine, Md./Gwynn Park (Md.)) and four-time NJAC Rookie of the Week Sam Toney (Somerdale, N.J./Williamstown), NJCU's top two scorers, were each coming off 20-point performances on Monday night, but playing for the second time in three days, couldn't reach double figures in the loss. Harris failed to score in double figures for the first time this season and only the fifth time in 43 career games at NJCU. He missed all four threes he attempted, finishing with eight points and seven rebounds before fouling out for the first time as a Gothic Knight. Harris had a streak of 15 consecutive double figure efforts snapped. He previously had not had more than three fouls in a game this year.
 
Toney had eight points (2-6 FG), sophomore Nelson Goodwater III (Englewood, N.J./Dwight Morrow) had eight points (3-5 FG) in 12 minutes off the bench, and sophomore swingman James Julius (Linden, N.J./Linden) totaled seven points and four assists.

Stockton shot 19-of-23 from the line (.826) and knocked down 9-of-20 three-point shots (.450). Stockton's Kashaun Barnes had 13 points (4-8 FG, 4-4 FT) five rebounds and four steals, Khaliq Ford had 11 points in 15 reserve minutes and Brandon Hamilton chipped in 10 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Harris and Toney scored the first seven to stake NJCU to a 7-2 lead before Stockton quickly tied it. After two more ties, NJCU closed the final five minutes with a surge. A layup by Harris made it 29-21 (4:40), Goodwater hit a three for a 32-23 margin (3:11) and a basket in the final 10 seconds pushed the margin to 39-28 at the break.
 
But Stockton answered, outscoring NJCU 17-5 in the first 6:37 of the second half to pull in front, 45-44. Hamilton, Catanoso and Ford all hit threes during the outburst before two foul shots by Maurice Hart gave Stockton the lead. NJCU grabbed the lead back when senior point guard Andrew Tomlin (Newark, N.J./Central) hit a three for a 49-45 NJCU margin but the Ospreys scored the next seven to make it a three-point home lead with 9:37 to play. Hamilton hit a three (57-53) but Julius cut to deficit to one, 59-58, with 4:48 left. It was a one-possession game from there until the final minute.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 80th meeting. NJCU leads all-time, 45-35. NJCU's three-game winning streak in the series snapped.
• Rankings: NJCU is ranked for the second week in a row. It is now No. 24 nationally by D3hoops.com.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
In the first ever meeting between two nationally ranked teams on Coach Charlie Brown Court, #24 NJCU will host No. 13 Ramapo (14-0, 8-0 NJAC) on Saturday, January 14 at 5 p.m. at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. The schools split the 2015-16 season series with the home team winning each matchup. It will be the 89th meeting in a series NJCU leads, 65-23.