Written for The Argo by Jacob Henderson

The Men’s Basketball Team earned their first win of the season Friday, February 19 over the New Jersey City Gothic Knights. Stockton’s Luciano Lubrano led the team in scoring with a career high 23 points on 63% shooting. 

With these two teams being evenly matched up, the first half never saw a lead bigger than seven points from either side. Jersey City was in control of the game up until the final three minutes of the half when Stockton went on an 8-2 run to take a 33-28 lead going into halftime. Stockton was more efficient in the first half posting a 48% team shooting percentage compared to Jersey City’s 33%.

Stockton came out of the half picking up right where they left off, taking a 41-32 lead in the first three minutes of the half. Over the next seven minutes, Jersey City went on a 20-9 run to take the lead 52-50 with 10 minutes remaining in the 2nd half. 

Coach Gerry Matthews called a timeout at the 10-minute mark as he was frustrated with the Osprey’s play. 

Lubrano and the Osprey’s exploded out of the timeout surging for 16 unanswered points and giving Stockton a 66-52 lead with seven minutes to go in the game. Jersey City were forced to take a timeout as the game was beginning to get out of hand. 

It was too late for Jersey City to mount a comeback as Stockton came out of the timeout still cooking with Lubrano and Duncsak hitting consistent shots giving the Osprey’s an 80-62 lead with three minutes remaining. As the game got more out of reach, both teams put their benches in and Stockton closed out the game with an 85-73 victory.

Luciano Lubrano led the Osprey’s in scoring with 23 points on an efficient 7-11 shooting. Lubrano also contributed with 4 assists and 4 steals. Rynell Lawrence and Nick Duncsak both scored 14 points to help bolster Stockton to their victory. 

The Osprey’s tough defense allowed them to get 10 steals which led to 22 points off of turnovers. They also had no problem sharing the ball as 18 of their 30 baskets came off of an assist.

New Jersey City’s Derreyn White led the team in scoring with 22 points.

The Osprey’s will now head to Jersey City to face the Gothic Knights on their home court Saturday. They will travel to Camden next week to take on Rutgers.