New Jersey basketball fans will love this historic Stockton reunion

For over 50 years, the Stockton University Men's Basketball program has played competitive college basketball, and has offered young men from South Jersey the opportunity to continue playing basketball after High School.

Located in Galloway, New Jersey, Stockton University has been rated one of the best accredited 4-year Universities/Colleges in the state of New Jersey. As part of a unique tournament this weekend, the school is honoring one of the best Men's basketball teams in school history.

The inaugural Stockton Classic is Friday, January 2nd, and Saturday, January 3rd

The 2008-09 Stockton Ospreys Men's Basketball team is the only Stockton team to win 30 games in a season, as they made a run to the NCAA Division III Basketball Tournament Finals. They will have a unique reunion in the form of a friendly scrimmage involving the team members scheduled for 11 am on January 3rd inside the Sports Center.

“I have heard that most of the 2009 team will be here,” Stockton Head Coach Scott Bittner said in a press release. “Along with seeing guys from that team, I am also really excited to see many of our former players that will take part in the alumni day. There are guys that I really haven’t seen much of since they have graduated, so I am really looking forward to catching up with many of them.”

This reunion game is part of the schedule of action for the inaugural Stockton Classic. The two-day tournament features college basketball games involving the Stockton Ospreys, Rowan University, Christopher Newport University, and Widener University.
The weekend of basketball will kickoff at 3 pm on Janauary 3rd with a matchup between Stockton and Widener, featuring two head coaches who were high school basketball teammates.

“Chris Carideo (Widener’s coach) and I are as close as they come,” explains Stockton Head Coach Scott Bittner. “Our families even got together for brunch in Manhattan the other day. But the preparation isn’t much different as it is with anyone else, other than many of the things our teams are doing we bounced off each other in the offseason.”

The second game on Friday, January 2nd will be a matchup between Rowan University and Christopher Newport. On Saturday, the Stockton Ospreys will matchup with the Christopher Newport Captains at 2 pm, followed by the Rowan Profs playing the Widener Pride at 5 pm.

South Jersey Basketball fans will have to wait until Wednesday, January 14th to see Stockton and Rowan face off. The Sports Center in Galloway will host that matchup of the two schools located 41 miles away from each other. Learn more about the festivities involving that regional showdown by visiting the game event page here.