UNION, N.J. (November 29, 2010) – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team earned its fourth consecutive victory with a tight, 80-77 road win at Kean University on Monday night at Harwood Arena in Union, N.J. The Ducks (4-1) were led by a team-high 22 points from junior guard Mike Cutri (West Caldwell, N.J.), as four players were in double figures for the second time in as many games. Sophomore guard Sheldon Jones (Queens, N.Y.) had a strong all-around game with 20 points and seven assists.
The contest began with five ties in the first 5:43 of game time and neither team was able to gain any more than a four-point edge for the first 10:08.
Eventually, the Ducks jumped out to the first lead of any significance, going on an 12-4 spurt over a span of 4:49 midway through the opening half to take a 25-18 edge with 8:32 to play after Sheldon Jones converted a three-point play. That seven-point Duck cushion was short lived as Kean (2-2) responded with a 12-0 run of its own to open up its largest lead of the game at 30-25 with 5:42 to go in the opening 20.
The Ducks battled back with an 8-0 run towards the end of the half but junior guard Ali Mix (West Orange, N.J.) was able to tie of the score with a three-point play in the final seconds and the two teams went into the break with a score tied a 33-all.
Senior forward Jonathan Jones (Linden, N.J.), the game's high-scorer with 28, started the second half with a dunk to give the Cougars the lead, and Kean was able to build a 47-42 advantage with 13 points in just 2:59 of action.
The Ducks weathered the hot start to the second and sliced into the Kean lead with a Sheldon Jones three-point play and a layup from senior captain Bryan Franklin (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) to tie the game at 47 with 15:47 to go.
Kean was able to build its advantage back to five, but the Ducks would not back down, getting big shots and big plays when they needed them. After the Cougars made it a five-point game with 14:42 remaining, Stevens clawed back, knotting things up at 56 after a Cutri steal and a fast-break layup from freshman forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.).
A pair of Sabatino free throws gave the Ducks the lead with 11:38 to play and after Kean regained the advantage with 9:46 on the clock, a Cutri triple put Stevens back on top. Kean answered again to regain the lead at 64-63, but on the ensuing possession the Ducks reclaimed upper hand for good.
After trailing by one the Ducks scored seven of the game's next eight points to open up their largest lead of the second half (six) and though Kean battled, Stevens had an answer every time it needed. With 1:40 to go, the Cougars made it a two-point affair following a Jonathan Jones layup, however, Sheldon Jones found Franklin underneath to get the lead back to four with 1:30 left.
A Jonathan Jones jumper on the next possession again tested the Ducks' metal, and after missing on their next offensive chance, Stevens got the stop it needed on the other ended and Cutri stepped to the line and calmly netted a pair of free throws with 17 seconds remaining to push the lead back to four.
A Mix layup made it a two-point game with 11 seconds left but Cutri hit 1-of-2 on his final trip to the line and Kean could not find the net at the buzzer and the Ducks left with a big road win.
Cutri finished with 22 points, four assists, four rebounds, and two steals. He was 4-for-5 from long range and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. Sheldon Jones had 20 points for the Ducks, going 9-of-13 from the floor. He also grabbed four rebounds and handed out game-high seven assists. Franklin had 11 points and six boards, while Sabatino netted 11 and pulled down seven rebounds. Junior forward Simon Smith (Cranford, N.J.) pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds, tallied eight points, dished out four helpers, and recorded a pair of thefts.
As a team, the Ducks shot 29-of-51 from the field (56.9 percent), and 5-of-12 from three-point range (41.7 percent). They were also 17-of-21 from the charity stripe. Stevens ended with a 42-30 advantage in rebounds and assisted on 17 of its 29 made baskets.
Kean was led by Jonathan Jones' 28 points and 11 rebounds. Mix had 12 points as Kean shot 32-of-79 (40.5 percent) from the field and 5-of-26 from long range (19.2 percent).
In total there were 14 ties and 15 lead changes in the see-saw battle.
Stevens will return to the hardwood on December 7 when it welcomes Rutgers University-Camden to the Canavan Arena for a 7 p.m. tip-off. All the action will be webcast live at www.PennAtlantic.com.
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