GALLOWAY, N.J. – The TCNJ men's basketball team came out firing but was unable to sustain a torrid start as host Stockton gradually pulled away with a 78-61 NJAC victory on Wednesday night.

Stockton (20-3, 14-2) stayed on track for the No. 2 seed in the NJAC playoffs, while the Lions saw their chances at a first-round home game extinguished. TCNJ (8-15, 7-9) is still all but guaranteed the No. 5 slot. 

TCNJ trailed 7-3 early, but the tables turned completely as Nick Koch and Jim Clemente spearheaded a reserve revolt. After a jumper by Koch, Danny Bodine splashed a go-ahead 3-pointer and slammed home a lob from Anthony DiCaro.

Clemente and Koch proceeded to combine for seven straight points and 11 of the next 14 for the visitors, who had stormed out to a 24-10 advantage after DiCaro knocked down a 3-pointer and pushed the pace for a fast-break assist to Clemente at the 10:47 mark. Koch also converted a three-point play during the spurt.

The Ospreys, however, countered with seven in a row and, after a Bodine triple restored a double-digit margin at 27-17, reeled off six more to get within 27-23 with 6:44 to play in the first period. DiCaro knocked down two more treys in the half to keep Stockton at arm's length, but by the time the horn sounded the hosts had sliced the deficit to a single point at 36-35.

Matthew Solomon netted a pair of baskets in the early stages of the second half, the last of which gave TCNJ a 42-40 lead. But the Ospreys rattled off a 17-2 run over the next five minutes, expanding their lead to 59-44. The spread never dropped below 11 the rest of the way.

Martin Anguelov led all scorers with 21 points and made all five of his 3-pointers for Stockton, which got 20 points and 12 rebounds from D.J. Campbell. Kyion Flanders (16) and Kadian Dawkins (12) also reached double figures.

Bodine registered 17 points and matched Matthew Okorie for the team lead with five rebounds for TCNJ, while DiCaro had 13 points and a game-high six assists.

Solomon, the reigning NJAC Rookie of the Week, finished with 10 points on 4-of-6 from the floor, and Koch had nine of his own. Clemente tallied six points, four rebounds, and four assists.

The Lions shot 50.0 percent in the first half (13-of-26) but struggled to a 33.3-percent effort 11-of-33) after the break, including 1-of-13 from beyond the arc.

Stockton controlled the transition game, racking up 22 fast-break points and 27 points off turnovers.

TCNJ welcomes Ramapo to Packer Hall for a Senior Day showdown on Saturday at 3 p.m.