Eastern University Men's Basketball dropped a tough 82-74 home loss to a very strong squad from Richard Stockton College in a Monday matinee on Martin Luther King Day. The Eagles got a season best 28 points from Martin Soaries, but Stockton put five players in double-figures while shooting 57% from the floor to secure the win.

The two teams stood toe to toe early, and the Eagles were able to answer Stockton's shots with tough baskets at the other end. Even tied at 14-14 midway through the first, the game seemed ready to turn into an up and down affair that would favor the visiting Ospreys. DiAndre Brown converted a three point play, and Pat Kelly hit his third three-pointer of the game to give the guests a six point edge in a blink. 

Soaries closed the gap to 20-16 with a tough basket in traffic, but as would be the pattern for the day, the Eastern guards would have to convert in traffic against the long and athletic interior players of last year's National Runner-Up side. After the two teams again traded baskets, Alex Nelson scored his third hoop of the game to pull the Eagles to within four with 5:39 to play. 

Stockton (13-4 3-2 NJAC) then hit the Eagles with a 10-0 run over the next two minutes to pull to a 14 point edge. It looked as though the guests were going to pull away, but Soaries, who was named after Dr. King, scored five straight points to close the gap back to nine. The Ospreys held the ball for the last shot and Santini Lancioni found Colin Hirsch in the corner, and the sophomore reserve drained his only shot of the half to build the Stockton lead back to 12.

Eastern hit just 36% from the field for the opening half, while Stockton connected on 60%. Led by Kelly and Horsch's unblemished efforts, the visitors stretched the floor effectively with 5-8 from behind the arc. Soaries hit the only three pointer of the half for the Eagles and led all scorers at the break with 12. 

The Eagles cut into the Stockton lead on several occasions in the second half, but every time the edge closed to within eight, the guests seemed to put together a pair of baskets and pull away ever so slightly. Nelson and Soaries each hit 7-11 shots after half, but Stockton's Lancioni withstood the Eastern pressure and found the right players for baskets at critical points. 

Extended pressure helped the Eagles to force eight second half turnovers and generated some transition baskets, but it also spread the floor where the Stockton quickness could take full effect. The Eagles converted 51% of their shots after the intermission, and grabbed 10 offensive rebounds, but Stockton converted at 56% clip and made enough free throws to hold on for the win.

Nelson finished with 20 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, and Collin Whipple finished with 10 points and seven boards. Michael Farrow led the guests 16 points. The junior guard also finished with a game-high five blocks. Lancioni and Kai Massaquoi each finished with 8 assists.

Eastern Head Coach Matt Nadelhoffer was pleased with the way his squad competed through the game. He said, "We didn't shoot the ball well from the perimeter, and we were going to have to shoot the ball better to beat them, but I thought we took some good steps today. Martin and Alex each stepped up and took some tough shots when we needed them. This will only make us better as we head into second semester."

The Eagles (7-8, 3-2 Freedom) return to action Wednesday afternoon with a Freedom Conference home date against FDU-Florham. The men will play the second game of the evening's double-header. 

Box Score