HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 25, 2012) – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team improved to 4-0 on the 2012-13 season with a 58-55 win over Rutgers-Newark Sunday afternoon at the Canavan Arena in Hoboken, N.J. Senior guard Sheldon Jones (Queens, N.Y.), sophomore forward Kenny Gan (Hillsborough, N.J.) and junior guard Matt Skrelja (Clark, N.J.) were all in double figures for Stevens.

The Ducks started extremely slow, falling behind 9-2 four minutes in and trailing by as many as eight points (12-4) in the early going. Stevens eventually found its rhythm, closing out the first half with a 27-18 lead behind a 23-6 run that came during the final 10:58 of half.

A three-pointer from freshman Evan Klimchak (Readington, N.J.) brought the Ducks within three at 12-9 and they

regained the lead for the first time since the opening moments on a layup by Skrelja A Skrelja steal and fast-break score gave Stevens a five point margin with less than three minutes on the clock, and the junior captain closed the half with a nice steal and finish to send the Ducks into the locker room with a nine-point lead.

Seven players scored in the first half with Skrelja leading all scorers with eight points. The Ducks shot 8-for-21 (38.1 percent) from the field and were just 1-for-8 from long range. Stevens did a nice job getting to the line, going 10-for-17 in the first half. Newark shot just 6-for-23 (26.1 percent).

The visitors charged back in the opening moments of the second half, getting within two at 31-29. However, the Ducks responded, getting a clutch three-pointer from senior guard Russ Thompson (West Orange, N.J.), a Skrelja to Gan layup, another Thompson three and a Skrelja put-back to push the lead to 11 with 11:55 to play.

The Raiders (2-2) made another push to get within two points with 7:47 left, eventually taking the lead (51-50) at the four-minute mark. After several empty possessions for both sides, a pair at the line from Jones and a layup from Skrelja gave the Ducks the lead with 2:01 on the clock at 54-51. Jones hit a big three from the right wing after a stop, but Rutgers-Newark would not go quietly, getting a runner from sophomore guard Christian Garcia (Freehold, N.J.) with 28 seconds left. A Scarlet Raider steal and two free throws from Garcia made it a two-point game with nine seconds left but it was too little too late and the Ducks held on for the win.

Newark shot 38.5 percent from the field and 4-for-10 from three. The Scarlet Raiders hit just 11 of their 24 free throw attempts and committed 17 turnovers. They ended with a 39-32 margin on the glass and had 10 assists.

Stevens shot 44.2 percent for the game and went 4-for-14 from long range. The Ducks shot 61.5 percent (16-for-26) at the line.

Skrelja played another excellent all-around game, finishing with 10 points, six rebounds, seven assists and six steals. Gan had 12 points and eight boards, while Jones tallied a game-high 16 and grabbed five rebounds. Stevens had 17 turnovers but did record nine steals and five blocked shots.

The Ducks will return to action on December 1 when they visit Williams College.

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