HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 18, 2014) – Five players scored in double figures as the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team picked up a 102-85 conference win over Alfred University Saturday afternoon at the Canavan Arena.
With the win, Stevens improves to 10-5 overall and 4-2 in the Empire 8. Alfred drops to 10-4 and 3-2 in the conference.
Much like Friday night against Houghton, Stevens came out strong, jumping out to 9-0 edge and eventually building a 16-point halftime lead (47-31).
Alfred was able to come back with a 10-2 run to make it an 11-10 game with 14 minutes to play in the first, and for the next three-plus minutes, the two teams went back-and-forth with the Ducks never relinquishing the lead.
Leading 20-18 with 10:57 on the clock, the Ducks went on a 12-2 run, to open a 32-20 margin. Senior guard Matt Skrelja (Clark, N.J.) had six points in the spurt, with senior guard Phillip DeSeignora (Boston, Mass.) putting in four.
Alfred was able to get back within eight points at 33-25 with 4:44 to play in the first, but the Ducks closed the half strong, outscoring the guests 14-6 to close the period and went to the locker room up 47-31.
Stevens extended the margin to 21 points following a layup from junior forward Kenny Gan (Hillsborough, N.J.) with 15:26 on the clock, and the lead hovered around 20 points for the next five-plus minute before Alfred made a run to get back in the game.
With Stevens on top 75-55 at 9:42, the Saxons outscored the Ducks 17-3 over a span of just 2:49 to get within six.
After two free throws from Alfred's Mike Snyder made it 78-72, the Ducks were able to respond, getting a clutch basket from senior guard Andrew Meszaros (Phoenixville, Pa.) and ended up running off eight-straight points to take an 86-72 margin with 5:44 on the clock.
From that point, Alfred could only get within 11 points as the Ducks were able to bring home a comfortable victory despite the Saxons' best efforts.
The Ducks finished the game shooting 51.5 percent from the floor (34-for-66), 6-for-20 from three and 28-for-40 (70 percent) at the stripe. Stevens held a 47-41 rebounding advantage and assisted on 24 of their 34 made baskets. The Ducks held a better-than 2-to-1 assist-to-turnovers ratio (24-11), tallied 12 steals and five blocked shots.
DeSeignora came off the bench to pour in 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting and also had three assists. Meszaros was also phenomenal, tallying 22 points (8-for-11), nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. Skrelja had 19 points (6-for-8), nine assists, seven rebounds and two steals, with junior forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.) notching 12 points, five boards, three blocks and two steals. Gan finished with nine points and a game-high 13 boards.
The Ducks, who went 2-0 this weekend, did not trail over the course of all 80 minutes of game time and also shot over 50 percent in each contest.
Stevens will return to action next Friday with Empire 8 games at Ithaca College and Utica College.