HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 2, 2010) – The St. John Fisher College men's basketball team outscored Stevens Institute of Technology 23-3 over the final 9:24 of the first half en route to a 40-16 halftime lead and eventual 63-50 win. The loss drops the Ducks to 7-2 overall, 2-1 in the Empire 8, and also marks the end of a seven-game winning streak. Senior guard George Greco led the Ducks with a game-high 14 points.
With Fisher leading 17-10 at the 10:58 mark of the first, Greco hit a three to pull the Ducks within four but that would be the closest they would get the rest of the way as Fisher exploded for 23 points in the final nine-plus minutes of the half to take a 40-16 lead into the locker room. Stevens connected on just six of its 23 field-goal attempts in the opening 20 minutes and was just 1-for-8 from the free-throw line. The Cardinals (6-2 overall, 2-0 Empire 8) shot 51.9 percent in the opening half and went 8-of-10 at the line.
Stevens did not quit and slowly chipped away at the Fisher lead throughout the second half, but could never get closer than nine (53-44 and 55-46) and the Cardinals were able to hold on for the win.
In addition to Greco's 14, senior forward Ian Masone and sophomore Mike Cutri each netted seven points. Masone also had a team-high six rebounds and three steals. The Ducks finished shooting 18-for-49 from the floor (36.7 percent), 4-for-15 from long range (26.7 percent), and 10-of-20 from the line (50 percent). They were outrebounded 40-27 and finished with 13 steals.
Freshman center Jason Norsen (Hamburg, N.Y.) and junior forward Jordan Koch (East Rochester, N.Y.) led Fisher with 12 points apiece. Senior guard Matt Newman (Campbell, N.Y.) and sophomore guard Connor Henderson (Canandaigua, N.Y.) finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Newman also had a game-high eight rebounds.
Stevens will return to the hardwood on Sunday afternoon when it hosts Empire 8 rival Nazareth College at 4 p.m. in the Canavan Arena. For those unable to attend, the contest will be webcast live at www.PennAtlantic.com/main.php.
