ALFRED, N.Y. (January 16, 2009) – Freshman forward Simon Smith scored 22 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, and senior guard Anthony Passalacqua scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team past Alfred University, 75-67 on Friday night in Alfred, N.Y. at the McLane Center. The win is the first in the Empire 8 for the Ducks who had lost their three previous conference contests. Stevens (8-5 overall, 1-3 Empire 8) will host Elmira College on Sunday afternoon in its first conference home game of the season.
Smith cracked the starting lineup eight games into the season and has been very productive. He is averaging 12 points and 11.2 boards in his five starts and has provided the Ducks with a solid inside presence. On Friday night, he netted his career-high and was 9-for-11 from the floor.
Stevens came out strong from the start, taking a 10-0 lead 3:55 into the action after a Michael Baker layup. The Ducks were able to maintain a comfortable margin through most of the first half, but Alfred was able to fight its way back into the game over the final 4:35. Trailing 30-21, the Saxons outscored the Ducks 17-9 to make it make it a one-point game going into the break. Sophomore Mike Stopera (Scotia, N.Y.) hit a triple as time expired to make the score 39-38 Stevens.
The Saxons came out in the second half and were able to take an lead early. Stopera hit another from deep to give Alfred a 41-39 edge just 23 seconds in, but the Ducks remained composed on the road and re-took the lead for good with 14:36 to go.
Junior forward Ian Masone drained a jumper on a feed from Baker to start a decisive 9-0 for Stevens as the Ducks were able to open a nice lead with 12:06 to go, and the Saxons would never get closer than four.
With 10:10 remaining, Stopera hit another three to make the score 58-54, but Smith converted a layup after one of his four offensive rebounds to ignite a 6-0 spurt by the Ducks that essentially put the game away.
Alfred hung tough and forced Stevens to convert at the line, but Passalacqua and junior guard Matt Higgins went 7-for-8 from the stripe over the final 2:06 to make sure the outcome was never in question.
The Ducks shot well from the line all night, making 20 of their 26 attempts. They also dominated on the boards, out-rebounding Alfred 40-26.
“I thought we played well tonight,” Head Coach Bobby Hurley said after the win. “We did a nice job making some free throws and on the glass. If we do those little things, we are going to win some games. It's just a matter of consistency.”
Baker was solid at the point for Stevens. The senior scored five points, grabbed five rebounds, and had nine assists to just one turnover. As a team, Stevens assisted on 17 of its 25 baskets and shot 48.1 percent from the floor.
In addition, Higgins was solid, netting eight points and grabbing nine rebounds, and freshman Michael Cutri had nine points and three boards. Masone was also strong in his first start of the season, scoring six points on 3-for-6 from the floor and snaring five rebounds.
Stopera led Alfred (6-8 overall, 2-4 Empire 8) with 23 points and five triples and Bobby Barry (Altamont, N.Y.) added 14 points. Jared Patt (Nelson, Pa.) posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Stevens will now return home after four-straight road contests to open the conference season. The Ducks will take on Elmira College on Sunday at 2 p.m. The game will be webcast live on www.Empire8.tv.
