UTICA, N.Y. (January 25, 2014) – For the fourth time in as many games, the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team earned a double-digit victory, this time getting a 92-67 Empire 8 road win at Utica College.
With the win, Stevens improves to 6-2 in the Empire 8 and 12-5 overall.
After the host Pioneers took a 2-1 lead, a layup from junior forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.) gave the Ducks a lead they would never relinquish, cruising to a 25-point win. The Sabatino pair started an 11-0 run over a span of 2:30 that gave the Ducks a 12-2 margin.
Utica (6-11 overall, 1-7 Empire 8) trimmed the Stevens lead to five points with 11:50 to play in the first, but the Ducks responded with another run – this one of the 8-0 variety. Sabatino canned a jumper, senior guard Matt Skrelja (Clark, N.J.) sunk a pair at the line, sophomore guard Evan Klimchak (Readington, N.J.) made a layup and two free throws as the Ducks quickly built their lead back to 13 (27-14) with 9:45 in the opening period.
The Pioneers came back to get within 10 at several points, but Stevens refused to let Utica build any real momentum, eventually pushing its margin to 20 at the break on the back of a three-pointer from senior guard Phillip DeSeignora (Boston, Mass.) with two seconds left.
In the second half, the Pioneers never got closer than 20, with the Ducks eventually building a 30-point edge when DeSeignora drilled another three, this to make it a 68-38 game with 11:09 left.
Sabatino led the Ducks with 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting, six rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. DeSeignora had 16 points and hit four three-pointers, while Klimchak had 12 points. Freshman forward Michael Signer (Rockaway, N.J.) poured in a career-high 11 points, with junior forward Kenny Gan (Hillsborough, N.J.) scoring 10 points and grabbing five rebounds. Skrelja had a great all-around game with eight points, eight rebounds, nine assists and two steals, with senior guard Andrew Meszaros (Phoenixville, Pa.) grabbing seven rebounds, scoring two points, recording two thefts and two assists.
Stevens shot 48.4 percent from the floor (31-for-64) and 37.5 percent from long range (9-for-24). The Ducks were 21-for-29 at the line, recorded 20 assists and just eight turnovers. The eight turnovers tied a season-low, and it was the second-straight game Stevens has had at least a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Ducks were also plus-16 in points in the paint (40-24) and received 39 points from their bench. The Stevens defense held Utica to 33.3 percent shooting (22-for-66) and just 8-for-29 (27.6 percent) from three.
Next up for the Ducks are a pair of conference games in the Canavan Arena against St. John Fisher College and Nazareth College on Friday and Saturday. Friday's tilt against the Cardinals is set for a 6 p.m. tip and all the action can be seen live at www.Empire8.TV.