HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 15, 2011) – Sophomore guard Russ Thompson (West Orange, N.J.) scored a career-high 23 points on 6-for-7 shooting from three-point range to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team to an important 72-57 Empire 8 win over Hartwick College on Tuesday night at the Canavan Arena. The Ducks hit eight three's as a team and held the Hawks to 35.1 percent (20-for-57) shooting as they move to 18-5 on the 2010-11 campaign.

Stevens was solid across the board in the first half as Thompson led all scorers with 15 points on five three-pointers (5-for-5). Sophomore guard Sheldon Jones (Queens, N.Y.) poured in six points, freshman forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.) had five, while junior forward Simon Smith (Cranford, N.J.) and junior guard Mike Cutri (West Caldwell, N.J.) had four. As a team the Ducks were 12-for-25 from the field and hit six of their nine attempts from long range.

The Hawks (14-9 overall, 9-5 Empire 8) took an 8-4 lead 4:35 into the action after a three-pointer from freshman guard Anthony Keane (Staten Island, N.Y.), but the Ducks responded with a 10-1 run over the game's next 4:50 to open up a 14-9 edge with 12:35 to play in the first half.

A Cutri three-pointer from the left corner handed Stevens an eight-point margin with a little more than nine minutes to go in the first, and after the two teams went bucket-for-bucket for the next six-plus minutes, Thompsons's fourth three-pointer of the half gave Stevens its first double-digit lead of the game at 35-25.

The Hawks shot 35.7 percent (10-for-28) in the first and hit four three-pointers. Senior guard Mark Blazek (Erie, Pa.) scored 10 points in the opening period to lead Hartwick.

Stevens outscored Hartwick 9-4 to start the second half to open a 13-point lead with 14:57 to play, and following a triple from junior guard Andres Carpo (Beacon, N.Y.), a Thompson triple handed the Ducks a 50-37 edge. Hartwick, however, responded, going on an 8-0 run over a span of 1:31 to trim the Stevens lead to five (50-45) with 12:30 left and seemed to take some of the momentum.

That momentum was short lived, as Stevens turned up their defensive intensity, forced several stops, made some free throws, and received a big tip-in from senior center Bryan Franklin (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) to push the lead back to nine with less than nine minutes showing on the clock.

The Hawks made it 56-49 with 5:21 to go but would get no closer as the Ducks were solid down the stretch in their seventh-straight win overall and second consecutive by double figures. A Jones layup thanks to a gorgeous feed from Thompson upped the edge to nine, a stop on the other end, a Thompson free throw on the next possession, another stop, another Jones lay in and the lead was back to 12 points with 3:52 left.

Stevens gained its largest advantage with a Franklin layup with 2:31 on the clock and were able to match it with two Jones free throws at the one-minute mark.

Thompson had 23 points, two assists, and two rebounds, while Jones finished with 18 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Smith had eight points, nine rebounds, and four helpers, and Cutri ended the game with nine points, five boards, and three assists. Franklin was strong inside all night, grabbing 10 rebounds, four offensive, and scoring eight.

Stevens shot 46.8 percent (22-for-47) from the field, 8-for-15 (53.3 percent) from three, and 20-for-27 (74.1 percent) from the line. The Ducks, who are ranked amongst the nation's leaders in rebounding margin, dominated the glass, ending with a 42-26 advantage.

The Hawks were led by Blazek's 13 points, three assists, and three rebounds and freshman forward Jared Suderley's (Newport, N.Y.) 14 points and four rebounds. Junior Chris Ryder (Port Washington, N.Y.) had a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.

Hartwick shot 20-for-57 (35.1 percent) from the floor, 6-for-25 (24.0 percent) from three, and 11-for-16 (68.8 percent) from the free-throw line.

The Ducks return to action on Friday night with another key Empire 8 contest when they host Elmira College at 8 p.m. On Saturday, Stevens will host Ithaca College in a matchup of the two teams currently tied for first place in the Empire 8 standings at 11-3.