HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 9, 2006) – Thanks to a hot-shooting second half, the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s basketball team was able to snap a four-game losing streak as the Ducks rolled past Hunter College, 98-72, in non-conference action at the Canavan Arena on Monday evening. Stevens connected on 20-of-26 field-goal attempts (76.9 percent) following intermission en route to scoring 57 second-half points as the Ducks improved to 6-5 with the victory. Meanwhile, Hunter fell to 2-11 on the year.
Six players scored in double-figures for Stevens as the Ducks had their highest offensive output of the season. Junior Tim Williams (Selden, N.Y.) tallied 15 points in the first half and finished with 17 on 7-for-10 shooting from the floor. Williams also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds as the Ducks out-rebounded the Hawks 40-30.
Freshman Virgil Gray II (Elmwood Park, N.J.) was 5-of-7 from the floor for 16 points. Junior Stephen Peters (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y.) provided a spark off the bench as he scored all 13 of his points in the second half. Peters made 5-of-6 attempts from the floor in the game.
Freshman Damien Palantino (Philadelphia, Pa.) drained three three-pointers and finished with 11 points. Junior Michael Collins (Bronx, N.Y.) had a season-high 10 points and added five rebounds. Sophomore Waleed Farid (Woodside, N.Y.) chipped in with 10 points.
Sophomores Garrick Todechine (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Torian Conner (Elizabeth, N.J.) played well off the bench. Todechine had a game-high six assists while Conner was 2-for-2 from downtown for six points.
Leading 41-34 at the half, Stevens used an 18-4 run in the opening eight minutes of the period to extend its lead to 21 points. Gray and Peters combined for nine points in the burst. The Ducks continued to add to their lead as they rattled off a 19-6 run in a five-minute stretch to take a 91-54 lead with just over three minutes remaining. Collins, Gray and Peters sparked the decisive run as they scored 15 of the Ducks’ points.
In the early portion of the game, neither team was able to grab control until Stevens put together an 8-0 run in the span of 1:21 to open a 31-23 advantage. Palantino started the spurt with a three-pointer. Williams and Collins sandwiched baskets around a free throw by Farid.
Hunter quickly responded with a 7-0 burst in less than two minutes to close to within one point (31-30) with 3:10 remaining in the half. The Ducks came right back with a 10-3 run of their own over the next 2:47 to take an eight-point lead late in the period. Palantino nailed a pair of three-pointers in the Ducks’ run.
Stevens shot a season-best 61.0 percent (36-for-59) from the floor for the game. The Ducks also forced the Hawks into 22 turnovers.
Hunter was led by sophomore Nelson Pierre (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who came off the bench to score a game-high 19 points and grab eight rebounds. Junior Rommel Dolar (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 16 points and three assists. Sophomore Danny Greenberg (Rockville, Md.) finished with 10 points.
