Toms River, NJ - OCC Men's Basketball slipped to an overall regular season record of 13-12 following a 68-59 loss to the visiting Middlesex College Blue Colts on Thursday (2/16).

The Vikings established a tempo early, leading through the first 23 minutes of the game, but found it difficult to break away from a hungry Colts team that was playing to secure a spot in the Region 19 postseason. Ocean sophomores Ethan Paul and Josh Kline each scored 13 points, and freshman Dallas Weisse contributed 11 points in the defeat. This trio has led Vikings scoring all season, and will factor heavily in the team's playoff success. 

"Although we were up at half and had a 10 point lead in the second half, it never truly felt like we had the game in our hands," recounted OCC Men's Basketball Assistant Coach Mike Manso. "Middlesex's physicality bothered us all night and made it extremely tough to get any consistency going on offense. Down the stretch, self-inflicted wounds cost us key possessions, and we couldn't get enough stops and rebounds when we needed to."

The Vikings return to action on Saturday, February 18, when they close out their regular season with a 2 P.M. matchup against Sussex County CC. Stay tuned for Region 19 postseason seeding and scheduling information.