HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 24, 2009) – Senior guard George Greco scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team to an impressive, 78-62, win over Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham on Tuesday night at the Canavan Arena in Hoboken, N.J. Stevens blew the game open early in the second half as the Ducks have now won three straight since dropping their opener at New York University on November 15.
Stevens (3-1) fell behind early by a score of 9-4 after a tip-in by senior forward Andrew Biancosino (Edison, N.J.) 3:35 into the first, but the Ducks quickly responded with a 7-0 spurt. Greco buried a three after a kick-out by senior Ian Masone and junior center Bryan Franklin tied the game with a 13-foot jumper before Greco gave the Ducks their first lead of the night with a drive down the left side of the lane. FDU- Florham would keep the see-saw first half going, scoring the game's next five points and regaining the lead (14-11) with 13:00 remaining.
Down 16-13 with 12:20 left in the first, Stevens went on its second 7-0 run of the game. Sophomore guard Eric Kessler converted a fast-break layup after a slick behind-the-back pass from freshman Russ Thompson and then came back to swish a triple 27 seconds later to put the Ducks ahead 20-16.
FDU again came back and took a 25-22 lead after a three-ball from sophomore guard Adam Katz (Wharton, N.J.) but could not extend as the Ducks countered with 13 of the half's final 20 points to take a 35-32 lead into the locker room. The game's first 20 minutes saw three ties and five lead changes, and the two teams combine to hit 7-of-13 from long range. Both squads shot extremely well in the opening 20 minutes with the Devils going 14-for-22 (63.6 percent) and the Ducks shooting 16-for-30 (53.3 percent).
After the Devils (0-4) cut the lead to one 46 seconds into the second half, the Ducks exploded on an 11-2 run to take a 46-36 lead with 16:21 to play. Greco tallied seven of the 11 points in the run as FDU could not seem to overcome the momentum from that point on.
Several times over the game's next five minutes, the Devils got the lead back into single digits, but they were never able to get it to a one or two possession game and really apply the pressure on Stevens. Up 48-41 with 12:19 to play, Stevens went on a 12-1 run to put the game away. Sophomore Mike Cutri hit two big threes and Kessler had one as the Ducks would never lead by less than 14 the rest of the way.
Stevens, which did not relinquish the lead for the final 25:02, finished the game shooting 55.2 percent from the floor and 53.3 percent from deep (8-of-15). Greco led the way with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting and three assists. His previous career-high, set back on February 20, 2007 vs. Yeshiva University, was 18 points. Smith finished with 10 points, six rebounds, and two steals, and Cutri netted 10, pulled down three boards, and dished out a pair of assists. Kessler shot 4-for-6 in 17 minutes and had 10 points and three rebounds. Masone finished with eight points and seven boards as senior captain Matt Higgins chipped in as well, scoring six and grabbing four rebounds in what was an excellent all-around team win.
Stevens also won the battle of the boards 33-27 and committed a season-low 13 turnovers while forcing 22 by FDU.
Sophomore guard Martin Johnson (East Orange, N.J.) led the Devils with 17 points and four rebounds and Katz scored 14. The Devils shot 50 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from deep.
Stevens returns to the hardwood on December 1 when it visits the United States Merchant Marine Academy at 7 p.m.
