Junior guard Russ Thompson (West Orange, N.J.) scored 29 points to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team to an 85-75 double overtime win over the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Tuesday night in Liebertz Gymnasium. The win improves the Ducks to 6-2 overall, while the loss drops the Mariners to 3-3.
Thompson hit big shot after big shot for Stevens, canning eight three-pointers on 13 attempts and 5-of-6 at the line. The junior also had three rebounds, two steals and two assists.
Stevens trailed by six, 29-23, after the first 20 minutes and struggled mightily from the field, going 9-for-27 from the floor and 2-for-11 from three-point range. The Ducks came out in the second half with renewed energy and started to claw back.
Several times, the Ducks fought within striking distance, but the hosts were able to maintain a solid working margin throughout much of the second period's first 10-plus minutes. But down eight with 8:48 left, the Ducks made their move.
Junior guard Sheldon Jones (Queens, N.Y.) and senior forward Simon Smith (Cranford, N.J.) tallied scores sandwiched around a defensive stop to get Stevens within four. Another solid defensive possession for the Ducks and a pair of Thompson free throws brought the Ducks within two with 6:42 remaining, and a steal by Jones that turned into a layup from Smith tied the game at 54 with 5:39 to go.
A jumper from sophomore Reed Buck (Lawrenceville, Ga.) slowed the Stevens momentum, but Thompson came down the floor and drained a three to give Stevens its first lead since 19-17.
With the score tied at 60, Stevens scored five-straight on two Thompson free throws and a Thompson three, but the Mariners hit a jumper, earned a stop, and Buck drained a triple with 29 seconds on the clock to send the game into overtime.
Stevens started the first overtime period by scoring five of the first six points to open up a four-point lead (70-66) with 3:26 left, but Buck scored four in a row to knot the game at 70-all. A layup from senior guard Mike Cutri (West Caldwell, N.J.) gave the Ducks a brief lead, but senior guard Kevin Kerr (Oakdale, N.Y.) nailed a triple with 16 seconds on the clock to give the Mariners a one-point margin (73-72). On the ensuing Stevens trip down the floor, Jones sliced through the lane to draw the foul and hit one of his two chances at the line, tying the score at 73 and sending the game to double overtime.
The Ducks dominated the second OT, outscoring King's Point by 10 and scoring the last 12 points of the game. Merchant Marine took a quick lead on a put-back and after 1-for-2 at the line for Stevens, a stop followed by Thompson's eighth three-pointer of the night gave the Ducks a lead they would never relinquish. Two more stops and a pair of layups from Jones sealed the win for a Stevens.
In addition to Thompson's 29, Stevens received 22 points and four rebounds from Jones, and 15 points and 11 boards from Smith – his seventh double-double of the year. Skrelja played big minutes for Stevens, putting in eight points and grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds.
After shooting 33 percent in the first half, the Ducks ended the game going 30-for-63 from the floor (47.6 percent) and 10-for-21 from three. Stevens hit 15 of its 23 free throws.
Buck led Merchant Marine with 28 points and seven rebounds. The Mariners shot 38.6 percent from the field and 25 percent from three. They held a 44-41 edge on the glass.
Stevens will return to action when it hosts Kean University on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. All the action can be seen live a twww.Empire8.tv.
Remember to "like" us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/StevensAthletics and follow us @stevensducks at www.Twitter.com/stevensducks.