Galloway, N.J. - Stockton University (16-10) opened up a 16-point lead in the second half and held off Kean University (12-14) for a 78-72 victory in the first round of the NJAC Tournament. The Ospreys are the No. 3 seed and Kean was the No. 6 seed.
 
Justin Harper (Bridgeton/Wildwood Catholic) led Stockton with team highs of 22 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Harper sank four three-pointers in the game.
 
Charlie Bell (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian) and Tayvon Gaither (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) tossed in 18 points apiece. Bell shot 7-11 (63.6%) from the field including 4-7 (57.1%) from beyond the arc. Gaither went 6-10 (60%) from the floor and 6-8 (75%) at the line.
 
Stockton trailed by as much as six in the first half before taking a 32-30 lead into halftime after Harper beat the buzzer with his second three-pointer in the last 24 seconds of the period. Harper and Bell led the Ospreys with eight first-half points apiece.
 
In the second half, Bell scored five points and Harper added four during a 16-1 run that gave Stockton a 55-39 advantage. Kean responded by outscoring the Ospreys 29-14 to get within 69-68 with 3:36 on the clock.
 
A three-point play by Gaither gave Stockton some breathing room at 72-68. Gaither then scored Stockton's next four points, and Harper sank to late free throws to clinch the 78-72 triumph. Gaither (14), Harper (14) and Bell (10) combined for 38 of Stockton's 46 second-half points.
 
Kareem Irby paced Kean with a game-high 29 points followed by Malachi Jeffers-Viera with 24 markers for the Cougars.
 
Stockton will play its NJAC Tournament semifinal game at No.2 seed The College of New Jersey on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. The teams split two regular-season meetings, with each team winning on its home floor.