FREDERICK, MD --- The Runnin Royals had enough to erase a 17-point margin with just seconds remaining, but not enough to win, as Stockton University got the game-winning layup with 1.0 second left in an 80-79 decision at the Rotary of Frederick Holiday Classic Saturday evening.
Eastern Mennonite (5-4) will play host Hood College Sunday afternoon at 3:00pm to finish play at the two-day event.
EMU trailed by as many as 17 points to Stockton (4-4), the three-time defending champions of the New Jersey Athletics Conference, before Maleke Jones (Charles Town, W.V./Washington) swished a three pointer with 9.7 seconds remaining to give the Royals a 79-78 lead. Their second lead of the game was short-lived, however, as the Ospreys pushed up the floor and got a weakside layup from Zavon Johnson to sneak the win back from EMU's men.
Stockton had used a 15-0 run early in the first half to build a 22-8 cushion, and had the lead at 35-18 before the Royals got within 40-31 at intermission.
The teams traded little jabs throughout the second, with the margin resting anywhere between six and 15 points.
Trailing 69-58 with 8:13 to play, EMU's bench started the comeback. Josh Good (Luray, Va./Luray) assisted on back-to-back Chad Simmons (Williamsburg, Va./Bruton) layups before hitting a pair of free throws to slice it 69-64. Stockton steadied and bumped the lead back to 77-68 with 1:29 remaining, but the Royals weren't done.
Travis Clower (Romney, W.V./Hampshire) netted two free throws with 1:14 showing and Stockton's Khaliq Ford missed two charity tosses. Jerome Jones (Charles Town, W.V./Washington) canned a triple with 1:04 left, and suddenly the men were within 77-73.
The Ospreys gifted EMU with an unforced turnover trying to inbound the ball, but Maleke Jones missed a three pointer. Stockton then got out on the fastbreak as EMU elected to not foul, but Khalil Davis (Harrisonburg, Va./Spotswood) drew a charge at the hoop with 32 seconds left.
Isaiah Harris-Winn (Frederick, Md./St. Maria Goretti) drilled a contested triple from top of key, making it a one-point game at 77-76 with 25.7 left.
Stockton hurt themselves again by making only 1-of-2 free throws with 24.0 ticks left, and Maleke Jones nailed the go-ahead three pointer with 9.7 remaining, getting a nice kick-out assist from Harris-Winn.
But Marcus Harmon pushed the ball up for the Ospreys and found Johnson for the game-winner.
The final second was still loaded with drama, complete with two more missed free throws and a desperation heave at the buzzer, but Stockton escaped with the decision.
Eastern Mennonite shot a pedestrian 11-32 for 34.4% from three in the game, and were out-shot 51.0% to 39.3% from the floor. The Runnin Royals kept things close by holding a +3 turnover margin and grabbing 12 offensive rebounds, leading to advantages of 14-7 in second chance points and 23-18 in points off turnovers. As a whole, the taller Ospreys had a 38-35 rebound edge.
Clower, who made every shot he attempted, and Maleke Jones each scored 12 to lead a balanced effort. Harris-Winn finished with 11 points and six rebounds, including four offensive. RaShawn Latimer (Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run) had 10 points and four assists, while Jerome Jones added nine tallies.
Stockton was just as balanced, with Johnson and Harmon each scoring 12 and three other players adding 11. Each of the duo had four assists while Harmon grabbed eight boards.