HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 8, 2013) – The 25th-ranked Stevens Institute of technology men's basketball team improved to 19-3 overall and 9-2 in the Empire 8 with a 59-46 win over Elmira College Friday night. The Ducks used a big run to start the second half to put the game away and were led by senior guard Russ Thompson (West Orange, N.J.) and sophomore forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.).
Stevens improved to 19-3 overall and 9-2 in the Empire 8, while Elmira dropped to 6-16 and 3-8 in the conference.
With the score showing 24-15 after one, the Ducks came out and put the game away with a furious run to start the second period. Stevens outscored Elmira 19-3 over the first 9:52 to open a 26-point lead and completely push the game out reach.
Sophomore forward Kenny Gan (Hillsborough, N.J.) started things with two at the line, with Sabatino scoring back-to-back buckets to put the Ducks up 15 (30-15) with 18:48 to play. A Gan steal and fast-break layup pushed the margin to 21 (39-18) at the 13:11 mark, with Elmira scoring its 20th point of the game 31 minutes into the action.
Thompson hit back-to-back three-pointers to make a 24-point margin 30 with 6:11 left, and the lead went to 32 after a bomb from freshman guard Kevin Zychowski (Mendham, N.J.).
Elmira was able to make the game closer over the final five minutes, outscoring Stevens 21-2 to close the night, but this one was all Ducks as they look toward a big-time matchup with Ithaca College Saturday evening at 6 p.m. The Ducks and Bombers are currently tied atop the conference standings at 9-2 heading into tomorrow's showdown. Ithaca came out on top several weeks ago at Ben Light Gymnasium.
Stevens fell behind early against Elmira, but scored 10-straight points to open a 10-4 lead exactly five minutes in following a Thompson three and Elmira would never get closer than five points the rest of the way.
Thompson had 17 points on just 10 shots including five three-pointers. He added seven boards and two assists in just 19 minutes. Sabatino finished with 14 points, 11 boards and a game-high four blocked shots, while Gan added eight points, five boards, two steals and a rejection. Skrelja had six points, three assists, three steals and a rebound, with junior guard Philip DeSeignora (Boston, Mass.) and freshman guard Evan Klimchak (Readington, N.J.) combining for nine points off the bench. Junior guard Andrew Meszaros (Phoenixville, Pa.) had two points and four rebounds in 12 solid minutes.
The Ducks shot 45.7 percent from the field, 7-for-16 from three and 10-for-13 at the line. They finished the game with a 42-36 edge on the glass, six blocks and seven steals.
Elmira was led by eight points and 10 rebounds from junior forward Chris Cassidy (Colts Neck, N.J.). The Soaring Eagles shot 24.6 percent from the field and 3-for-27 (11.1 percent) from long range.
In two games against Elmira this season – both wins – Stevens has held the Soaring eagles to 27 total first-half points.
Stevens will host Ithaca tomorrow afternoon at 6 p.m. All the action will be webcast live from the Canavan Arena at www.Empire8.Tv. Elmira will visit Hartwick College.
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