HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 6, 2009) – On the same night he was honored for scoring his 1,000th career point, senior guard Anthony Passalacqua set a new school-record for career three-point field goals made and propelled his team to a much-needed, 71-69 win over Alfred University. Passalacqua went 7-for-13 from long range and scored a game-high 23 points as the Ducks improved to 12-8 overall and 5-6 in the Empire 8. Passalacqua's fifth three of the night gave him 212 for his career, one better than 2001 graduate Christian Gavina.
Eight minutes into the first half, the two teams were tied at 15-all, as neither team could really get any separation. Alfred (7-12 overall, 2-8 Empire 8) was able to build a five-point lead at 28-23 after a Jared Patt (Nelson, Pa.) layup with 5:39 left in the opening half. Stevens came back to knot the score at 30-30 after a Passalacqua three, but the Saxons went on to score six of the final eight points in the first half to go into the break with a 36-32 advantage.
Alfred only attempted 19 shots in the first 20 minutes but made 10 of them. Stevens was 12-for-33 from the field and only hit three of its eight free-throw attempts as the two squads were even on the boards with 17 apiece.
The Saxons came out strong in the second half and were able to build a 10-point lead with 18 minutes on the clock. The Ducks got it back to four after an Ian Masone layup, but Alfred continued to play well.
The lead ballooned back to 11 with 9:18 remaining in regulation after sophomore Gary Kwiecien (Perry, N.Y.) completed a personal 5-0 run with a 15-foot jumper to make the score 57-46.
With their backs against the wall, Stevens came up with a huge run. Senior guard Michael Baker converted on two free throws, and then Passalacqua banged home a three to get the lead back down to six. Senior guard Virgil Gray proceeded to force a steal and converted on the other end with a layup to make the score 57-53. Baker than made a jumper and on the next possession lofted a perfect lob to Gray who elevated for the slam. The 11-0 run happened in just 2:40 of game time.
Gray hit two free throws to give the Ducks a two-point edge, but Patt was able to pull Alfred even at 59-59 with 5:26 to go. Trailing by one with 2:37 remaining sophomore Mike Stopera (Scotia, N.Y.) hit a three, and Alfred regained the lead at 69-67.
That lead was short lived as Passalacqua saved his biggest three of the night for his last. This one was after a nice feed from Baker, and it gave Stevens the lead for good at 70-69 with 1:34 to go.
Passalacqua finished with 23 points and six rebounds in 31 minutes. Gray had a solid game as well for the Ducks, scoring 17 points and dishing out two assists. Baker finished with eight points, four rebounds, 10 assists, and three steals. Freshman Michael Cutri hit two big triples for Stevens and grabbed two rebounds, and Masone was all over the court in his 28 minutes, totaling four points, three rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. Freshman Simon Smith finished with four points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Stopera led the Saxons with 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Kwiecien netted 15, had seven assists, and five boards and Patt had 14 points.
Stevens finished the game with a 36-28 advantage on the glass and shot 50 percent (13-for-26) in the second half. The Ducks also made seven of their final 11 shots from the charity stripe.
Stevens will now hit the road to take on Ithaca College on February 10. The Ducks will return home on February 15 to face Utica College on Senior Day.
