HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 15, 2011) – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team used a 23-2 run midway through the first half to open up a 32-13 lead and never looked back, crusing to a 76-57 win over Alfred University in an Empire 8 game on Saturday afternoon at the Canavan Arena in Hoboken, N.J. Sophomore guard Sheldon Jones (Queen, N.Y.) led the Ducks with 21 points and seven rebounds, while freshman forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.) recorded his first career double-double, totaling 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Jones' 21 points came on 10-for-15 shooting, while Sabatino was 6-for-11 from the field and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. He grabbed six defensive rebounds, five offensive, and also added two blocked shots for the Ducks (10-3 overall, 4-1 Empire 8). Senior center Bryan Franklin (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) had a solid game with eight points (4-for-4 from the field) and eight rebounds. Junior guard Mike Cutri (West Caldwell, N.J.) had 13 points and six rebounds, while sophomore guard Russ Thompson (West Orange, N.J.) tallied a game-high seven assists and also scored seven points. Junior forward Simon Smith (Cranford, N.J.) was once again solid for Stevens, scoring seven and pulling down nine rebounds.

Cutri started the scoring for Stevens as the Ducks jumped out to an early 7-0 lead four minutes into the action, but the Saxons came back with an 11-2 run over 4:39 to take an 11-9 lead. That advantage was short lived as the Ducks clamped down on the defensive end and opened up a 32-13 lead with 2:58 to play in the first. The 23-2 run was keyed by Sabatino's eight points, and four from Thompson and Franklin.

Alfred came back with seven-straight points to end the opening half and the two teams went into the break with the Ducks holding a 32-20 lead. At one point, the Saxons went 7:49 without a made field goal and 20 of the Ducks' 32 first-half points came in the paint.

The Saxons (7-7 overall, 2-4 Empire 8) came out strong in the second half, cutting the lead to nine twice, but they were unable to get any needed stops and could never get closer the rest of the way.

A three from senior guard Mike Stopera (Scotia, N.Y.) brought Alfred within nine with 16 minutes to play but the Ducks quickly extended their lead back to 16 with 11:37 left with a 13-6 run over a little more than three minutes.

The Ducks were able to gain their largest lead of the game when a Franklin put-back made the score 59-39 with 8:09 remaining and eventually pushed the advantage to 22 thanks to a three-point play from Sabatino with 28 seconds left.

Stevens shot 50.8 percent from the field (32-for-63) and 83.3 percent from the line (10-for-12).

Alfred ended the game 20-of-56 from the floor and connected on nine of its 28 attempts from beyond the arc. The Saxons hit eight of their 10 free throws.

Stopera scored a game-high 23 points thanks to five three-pointers.

Stevens will return to action on Friday night at Ithaca College. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.