GALLOWAY, N.J. – The 331-day drought without any games for The College of New Jersey came to a conclusion on Friday night. The TCNJ men's basketball team defeated Stockton by an 89-81 final score to begin the long-awaited 2021 season.

With 6:40 to play in the game, Stockton cut the TCNJ lead to 73-65, however TCNJ countered with a 14-6 stretch to put the game out of reach. A three-pointer from Travis Jocelyn pushed the lead to 12, then Jocelyn knocked down a jumper on the next possession. After the Ospreys recorded the next four points, Jason Larranaga scored a fast break lay-up off a P.J. Ringel assist.

Danny Bodine converted a jumper to push the Lions' lead to 83-69 with just under three minutes remaining. Bodine made a pair of free throws, then Ringel stretched the lead to 16 with a jumper with only 1:34 left to play.

The Lions led for the entire 40 minutes of the game. TCNJ showed no signs of rust and jumped out to an immediate 9-0 lead after the opening tip. Larranaga recorded the first five points of the game with a lay-up and a three-pointer. A trifecta from Jocelyn gave the Lions an 8-0 lead early on.

Stockton came within 33-30 with 5:29 to play in the first half, but the Lions ended the period strong with an 18-8 run. Three-pointers from Bodine and Larranaga bumped the lead to 39-30, then Jocelyn made a jumper to put TCNJ ahead 41-30.

Larranaga remained locked in, and hit another three-pointer to put TCNJ ahead 44-33 with 3:13 left to play. The sophomore forward led TCNJ with a career-high 21 points. He shot 8-of-12 from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point range. Larranaga also grabbed six rebounds.

Two trifectas from Anthony DiCaro capped off the late first-half run. The Lions took a 51-38 lead into the locker room.

The second half started the same way that the first half ended, as DiCaro struck from long range again to give TCNJ a 54-38 lead seven seconds into the half. TCNJ was able to keep Stockton at arm's length during the final stretch of the game to clinch the season-opening win.

Jocelyn tallied 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to go with three steals. Bodine scored 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor and 3-of-5 shooting from three-point range. The junior forward also pulled down eight rebounds.

DiCaro scored 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from three-point territory. Ringel scored 12 points, dished out six assists, and grabbed five rebounds.

TCNJ shot an efficient 17-of-37 (46%) from three-point range. The Lions tallied 17 assists on 31 made field goals.

Next up for the Lions is the back end of the home-and-home against Stockton tomorrow. TCNJ will take on the Ospreys at home for a 1:00 p.m. start.