Senior guard Michael Cutri (West Caldwell, N.J.), junior guard Russ Thompson (West Orange, N.J.) and junior guard Sheldon Jones (Queens, N.Y.) all scored at least 20 points to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team to a 94-85 win at Utica College on Saturday evening. With the win, the Ducks improve to 15-4 overall and 7-2 in the Empire 8. Stevens is now a perfect 8-0 on the road this season.
Stevens came out strong, jumping out to a 17-7 advantage 3:39 into the game, but the Pioneers (6-13, 2-7 Empire 8) responded with a 12-2 run to tie the game at 19-all midway through the first.
Stevens used an 8-0 run over a span of just 70 seconds to regain the momentum and a 37-29 edge with 5:40 to go before intermission, but again, Utica came right back with eight-straight points of its own to tie the game at 37 1:07 later, and the two teams traded baskets the rest of the half with the Ducks heading into the break up 45-44.
The game remained tight throughout the opening moments of the second half with Stevens taking six-point leads on several occasions, but the Ducks were unable to pull away.
With the scoreboard showing 65-64 in the Ducks' favor with 11:02 left, Stevens was finally able to create some space. Senior forward Simon Smith (Cranford, N.J.) started the run with a free throw and Cutri buried a triple to put the Ducks up five. A stop and a three-point play from Cutri gave Stevens an eight-point cushion, and two points apiece from Smith and Cutri sandwiched around a layup from Utica's Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, N.Y.) handed Stevens its first double-digit lead since the 16:21 mark of the first half.
The Pioneers were able to get within six on two occasions down the stretch, the last coming with 5:30 left in the game, but Stevens received a jumper from Jones followed by a steal and layup by Cutri to push the lead back to 10 with 5:01 left. A three-ball from sophomore forward Kevin McManamy (Charlotte, N.C.) gave Stevens its largest lead (13) as the Ducks cruised to their eighth road win of the year against no losses.
The Ducks shot an even 50 percent (33-for-66) from the field and went 11-for-21 (52.4 percent) from three-point land. The Ducks were 17-for-23 at the line and combined for 20 assists (13 turnovers).
Cutri led the way with 25 points on 9-for-18 shooting. He hit four three-pointers. Thompson had 20 and canned 6-fo-8 from long range. He also added six rebounds and five assists. Jones had 20 points and two assists, and sophomore guard Matt Skrelja (Clark, N.J.) had a superb all-around game, recording 10 points, eight rebounds, a game-high egiht assists and two steals. Smith finished with 14 points, six boards and three helpers as all five Stevens starters were in double figures.
Utica was led by junior forward Jeff Ward (Ossining, N.Y.) who had 20 points and eight rebounds. Senior guard Matt Baldwin (Gloversville, N.Y.) added 19 points and Nevins had 15 and six rebounds.
Utica shot 43.7 percent (31-for-71) from the field and 8-for-27 (29.6 percent) from three. The Pioneers went 15-for-20 at the line.
The Ducks entered the game in a three-way tie for first with Hartwick College and Nazareth College. All three teams won Saturday to improve to 7-2 in the Empire 8. Ithaca College is in fourth place at 5-4.
Stevens will return to action on Tuesday night at Rutgers University – Newark. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.