Box Score HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (November 17, 2012) – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team defeated No. 20 William Paterson University, 71-55, Saturday night in the Comfort Inn Tip-Off Tournament title game. The Ducks put together a marvelous second half of basketball, outscoring the Pioneers 45-25  over the final 20 minutes en route to the win. The Ducks improved to 2-0 on the season, while the Pioneers dropped to 1-1.
 
Stevens was led by 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting from senior guard Sheldon Jones (Queens, N.Y.). Jones also grabbed a team-high five rebounds and handed out a pair of assists as well. For his performance, Jones was named the Tournament MVP with sophomore forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.) earning All-Tournament Team honors.
 
Stevens ended the game shooting 58.3 percent (28-for-48) from the field, 5-for-15 from long range, and 10-for-14 from the line. The Ducks were 5-of-7 from long range in the second stanza and hit 16 of their 22 second-half shots.
 
As was the case in Friday's win over Centenary College, Stevens came out shooting the ball well, opening 6-for-10 from the floor. Despite the hot shooting, the Ducks were unable to create any separation in the early going, committing six turnovers in the game's first eight minutes.
 
With the Ducks up 16-13 after a layup from sophomore forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.), Paterson ran off seven-straight points to open a 20-16 margin with six minutes left in the first, but Stevens answered with two quick buckets to tie the game at 20-all. Sophomore forward Kenny Gan (Hillsborough, N.J.) assisted a hoop from junior guard Matt Skrelja (Clark, N.J.) and Gan deposited a layup after a nice feed from senior guard Russ Thompson (West Orange, N.J.).
 
After the Ducks tied the game, WPU was able to go on a 10-2 run to go up 30-22 with less than a minute to play in the opening period. Senior guard Lance Brown (Teaneck, N.J.) and senior forward Thomas Goubadja (Union, N.J.) had four apiece points in the spurt.
 
Looking at a near double-digit deficit to the nation's 20th-ranked team, the Ducks were able to slow the momentum and close the half with four big points in the final 30 seconds. Skrelja found Sabatino for an open jumper and Thompson hit a pair at the line to make it a 30-26 game going into intermission.
 
The Ducks ended the first shooting 12-for-26 (46.2 percent) from the field but were 0-for-8 from the long range. Sabatino and senior guard Sheldon Jones (Queens, N.Y.) each scored eight points.
 
The Pioneers pushed the margin to seven 1:45 into the second half (37-30), but Stevens quickly battled back, regaining the lead for the first time since midway through opening period thanks to a three-point play from Sabatino. Five consecutive points from Jones made it 50-44 Ducks with 10:44 on the clock and forced a Paterson timeout. Thompson assisted a Sabatino layup with the Pioneers finally slowing the Stevens momentum behind a made basket from sophomore forward James McLane (Belleville, N.J.). The McLane layup put an end to a 22-7 run for Stevens that came over a span of more than eight minutes.
 
After McLane's jumper, William Paterson was able to cut the lead to two (52-50), but a pair of monster three-pointers – first from Jones then from junior forward Kevin McManamy (Charlotte, N.C.) – gave Stevens a 58-50 lead with 4:41 to go.
 
One of two free throws from junior guard Andrew Meszaros (Phoenixville, Pa.) and a pair from Sabatino gave Stevens an 11-point lead (63-52) with 3:45 to go and it would never look back.
 
William Paterson was able to cut the Ducks' lead into single digits on two occasions, but Stevens had the answer, making plays down the stretch to earn an early-season statement win.
 
Sabatino finished with 17 points (7-for-8 shooting) and three rebounds. Gan had 10 points, three assists and four rebounds, while Thompson had eight points, eight assists and three boards. Skrelja finished with nine points, five helpers and four rebounds.
 
Brown finished with 14 points for Paterson as 11 Pioneers found their way into the scoring column. Paterson shot just 34.8 percent from the field and 18 percent from three. They were 6-for-12 at the line.
 
Stevens finished with 20 assists on 28 made baskets but did have 19 turnovers. Paterson had 13 helpers with 12 turnovers and also had 12 second-chance points. Sabatino tallied three of Stevens' five blocks, with Thompson getting three of the Ducks' seven steals.
 
Stevens will return to action at Fairleigh Dickinson University – Florham Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
 
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