NEW YORK, N.Y. – Sophomore guard John Gurzo scored a team-high 21 points off the bench to lead Baruch College to an 81-64 win over Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday night in a men’s basketball game at the Athletic and Recreation Center.

Baruch earned its ninth straight win, improving to 18-1.  Stevens falls to 3-15.

Freshman guard Floyd Morris (East Windsor, N.J./Peddie School) made one free throw with 49 seconds left in the first half to give Stevens a 32-30 lead.  Baruch scored five points of the half to reclaim the lead.  Junior center Garry Etienne made the first of two free throws with 34 seconds left.  Junior forward Boris Katava then tipped in a missed shot with 20 seconds left to give the Bearcats a 33-32 lead.  Senior guard John Alesi then came up with a steal and a layup as time expired to increase the lead to three points.

Baruch then used an 18-2 run over the first 8:41 of the second half to turn a close game into a rout.  Etienne had 10 points and Alesi added eight, including a pair of 3-pointers as the Bearcats extended their lead to 53-34 with 11:19 left in the second half.

Stevens twice closed to within 12 points in the second half, but Burzo countered with baskets each time.  After shooting just 36.4 percent in the opening half, Baruch managed to shoot 61.5 percent (16-for-26) including 6-for-8 from 3-point range.

Stevens was led by senior forward Eric Stanley (New York, N.Y./Solebury Prep) scored a game-high 22 points and pulled down seven rebounds.  Senior forward Jon Almonte (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) added 14 points and seven rebounds.  Junior forward Jordan Clark (Hopewell, Ohio/West Muskingum) and freshman guard Ryan Lynch (Medford, N.J./St. Joseph’s Prep) added nine points each off the bench.

Stevens returns to action on Saturday, February 1, with a 7 p.m. game against St. Joseph’s-Patchogue at the Canavan Arena.