ROCHESTER, N.Y. (January 3, 2009) – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team fell to 0-2 in the Empire 8 after a 60-52 loss in Pittsford, N.Y. at the hands of St. John Fisher College. For the second-straight conference game, the Ducks struggled mightily from the field, shooting just 26.7 percent for the game and 53.8 percent from the free-throw line. The Ducks were led by 19 points from senior guard Anthony Passalacqua, and the eight points and 15 rebounds of freshman forward Simon Smith. Fisher was led by Mike Wopperer (East Amherst, N.Y.) who scored 11 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.

With the win, Fisher improves to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the Empire 8, while Stevens falls 7-4, 0-2.

Fisher led 7-5 after the opening two minutes, but trailed 18-12 with 8:34 left in the first half.  The Cardinals, however, responded with an 11-0 run over the next four minutes to take the lead for good and led 30-23 at intermission.

 The Cardinals never relinquished its advantage, keeping between a 5- and an 11-point lead for the remainder of the ontest. Fisher shot 44.2 percent from the floor, while Stevens was just 16-for-60. Both teams shot less than 55% from the foul line.

The double-double for Wopperer was the first of his career. Senior guard Virgil Gray scored 12 points for the Ducks, with eight coming in the first half. Freshman guard Jordan Gettings (Cohoes, N.Y.) and Anthony Hall (Palmyra, N.Y.) each scored nine points, while Matt Newman (Campbell, N.Y.) totaled eight rebounds, seven points and six assists.

Stevens finished the game with 12 assists and 14 turnovers. Senior guard Michael Baker had nine helpers for the Ducks, and junior forward Ian Masone was solid on the glass with seven rebounds.

The Ducks will return to the hardwood on January 13 at Utica College.