Tim Williams scored a team-high 16 points against the Cyclones. |
HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 25, 2006) – After falling behind 2-0 early in the game, the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s basketball team rattled off 17 unanswered points and maintained its double-digit advantage throughout the contest as Ducks posted an 85-75 victory over Centenary College on Wednesday evening at Canavan Arena in Hoboken, N.J. With the win, Stevens improved to 10-7 (5-3 Skyline Conference) on the year. The Cyclones dropped their 14th straight contest and fell to 2-15 overall (0-9 Skyline).
Following a pair of free throws by freshman guard Alex Kuchar (Rutherford, N.J.), Stevens took control with a 17-0 burst in the span of 6:07. Junior forward Tim Williams (Selden, N.Y.) scored seven straight points in the middle of the Ducks’ spurt. Freshman guard Damien Palantino (Philadelphia, Pa.) connected on a lay-up and added a long three-pointer for Stevens.
Leading 23-10 midway through the first half, the Ducks went on a quick 8-0 run to open a 21-point cushion with 8:26 remaining in the period. Freshman guard Virgil Gray II (Elmwood Park, N.J.) made two free throws to start things for Stevens. Sophomore guard Waleed Farid (Woodside, N.Y.) scored on a lay-up and added a pair of free throws. Junior forward Michael Collins (Bronx, N.Y.) capped the run with a lay-up.
Stevens went into intermission with a 46-25 advantage after shooting 51.7 percent (15-for-29) in the first half.
Centenary stayed close in the early portion of the second period and made things interesting as the Cyclones cut an 18-point deficit down to 12 points following a 9-2 run. Sophomore forward Tayllor Cooper (Newark, N.J.) converted on a lay-up as Centenary closed to within 70-58 with 5:32 to play.
The Cyclones continued their second-half surge and cut the Ducks’ lead to 83-73 with 1:28 remaining as Kuchar drained a jumper from the wing. That would be the closest that Centenary would come though as Stevens held on for the victory.
Williams scored a team-high 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting as four Ducks scored in double-figures. Gray finished with 15 points as he made five of nine field-goal attempts before fouling out. Palantino was five of nine from the field and made three shots from downtown for 14 points. Farid chipped in with 10 points.
Centenary was led by Kuchar, who scored a game-high 31 points on 9-for-19 shooting from the floor. Kuchar was a perfect 10-for-10 at the foul line as well. Senior guard Andre Harris (Morristown, N.J.) knocked down 10 of 12 free throws and finished with 20 points.
For the game, the Cyclones made 23 of 26 attempts (88.5 percent) at the line. Centenary also shot 53.6 percent (15-for-28) from the field in the second half as the Cyclones outscored the Ducks 50-39.
The Ducks will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to SUNY Old Westbury. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
