Virgil Gray II slams home two of his 29 points against Mount Saint Mary.

HOBOKEN, N.J. (December 9, 2006) – Sophomore guard Virgil Gray II (Elmwood Park, N.J.) poured in a career-high 29 points on 11-for-17 shooting from the floor as the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s basketball team snapped a nine-game losing streak (which dated back to the 2001-02 season) against Mount Saint Mary College with an 86-55 victory over the Blue Knights on Saturday in Hoboken, N.J.  Gray, who was 7-for-7 at the line, also had five rebounds and three blocks.

Leading 24-22, Stevens (5-3, 2-1 Skyline) went on a 12-2 run over the final 2:40 of the first half to grab a 36-24 lead at the break.  Gray had two breakaway dunks to fuel the burst.  Sophomore guard Anthony Passalacqua (Staten Island, N.Y.) and junior guard Waleed Farid (Woodside, N.Y.) both made three-pointers for the Ducks.  Senior forward Michael Collins (Bronx, N.Y.) added a pair of free throws in the run.

Midway through the second half, Stevens put the game away with a 13-2 spurt.  After a made free throw by Mount Saint Mary senior guard Mike Hoyt (Florida, N.Y.) brought the Blue Knights (2-6, 0-3 Skyline) to within 56-48 with 10:01 left on the clock, freshman guard George Greco (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) knocked down a jumper to get the Ducks going.  Gray followed with a lay-up, and Passalacqua made a free throw.  After two free throws and a jumper by Gray, junior forward Nathaniel Williams (Elmont, N.Y.) converted on a three-point play.  Sophomore guard Damien Palantino (Philadelphia, Pa.) capped the run with a free throw as the lead grew to 69-50 with 4:15 to play.

Farid finished with 17 points and six rebounds.  Greco and Palantino had 10 points apiece.  Collins recorded nine rebounds and six blocks.  Freshman guard Matt Higgins (Freehold, N.J.) provided a spark off the bench with nine rebounds (six of which came on the offensive boards).

Mount Saint Mary was led by Hoyt, who had 24 points and five rebounds.  Sophomore forward/center Chris Harrison (Baldwin, N.Y.) contributed 11 rebounds and six points.  Freshman guard Troy Johnson (Walden, N.Y.) added 10 points off the bench.

Stevens owned a 52-36 rebounding advantage in the game.  The Ducks made 10 three-pointers and shot 42.3 percent (30 of 71) from the floor overall.  Mount Saint Mary converted 26 turnovers and shot only 28.6 percent (16-for-56) from the field.

The Ducks’ next game is slated for January 3 against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  Game-time is slated for 7 p.m. in Troy, N.Y.