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HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 15, 2013) – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team will open its 2013-14 season Saturday against New Jersey City University in the York College (Pa.) Tip-Off Tournament.
 
Following the 8 p.m. tilt with the Gothic Knights, Stevens will square off against host York or Gallaudet Sunday at 1 or 3 p.m.
 
Stevens is coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history as the Ducks finished the year with a record of 22-6 – the team and reached the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in school history. Stevens also earned the Empire 8 regular-season crown after going 11-3 in conference play.
 
Leading Stevens into the season will be four senior captains with a lot of experience in guard Phillip DeSeignora (Boston, Mass.), guard Andrew Meszaros (Phoenixville, Pa.), guard Matt Skrelja (Clark, N.J.) and forward Max Schwartz (Bridgewater, N.J.).
 
DeSeignora has been a player that has shown steady improvement and growth throughout his entire career. The Boston native has consistently been one of the team's hardest workers in the weight room and during practice, earning season highs in minutes, points, assists and rebounds as a junior. DeSeignora should be one of the top perimeter defenders on the team and will prove to be a valuable asset for the Ducks this season.
 
Meszaros has been a steady contributor over the course of his time on Castle Point, playing 14.3 minutes over 26 games off the bench for the Ducks as a junior. Since 2010, Meszaros has played in 77 games, scoring 173 points and pulling down 190 rebounds, and will see a major increase in minutes and numbers as a senior. The Pennsylvania native is another player that will be a key on the defensive end all year as the Ducks look to remain one of the top field-goal-percentage defenses in the nation (No. 15 last year).
                          
Skrelja had his best season to date last year, starting all 28 games for the Ducks. The veteran has seen action in 84 contests in his career, total 149 steals and 221 assists. Last year, the senior dished out 114 assists against just 65 turnovers, averaging over four helpers per outing to go along with 6.1 rebounds and 8.1 points in a fantastic all-around season. He led the Ducks in steals, assists and was second in rebounds and is eyeing increases across the board as he enters his final campaign in Hoboken.
 
Schwartz has been a solid reserve for Stevens, providing Head Coach Bobby Hurley (Nutley, N.J.) with important minutes up front whenever healthy. The New Jersey resident has battled injuries for much of his career, playing in 75 games. He has 99 career rebounds, 178 points, 10 blocks and 17 assists in three seasons, and will be a defensive leader whenever on the floor.
 
"All four of our seniors are leaders," Hurley said. "They have a lot of experience and will bring different things to our team but each one has grown within the program, demonstrating great commitment and work ethic. We obviously hope they all can have great seasons, but we also are looking for them to help push and mentor the younger guys for the future."
Two juniors will see a lot of action as returning starters in forward Kenny Gan (Hillsborough, N.J.) and forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.).
 
Gan played in and started all 28 contests for Stevens last year and was a major force on the defensive end and on the glass. A player that seems to be in the right place at the right time, Gan shot 56.3 percent from the field and averaged 6.6 points. The then-sophomore tallied 6.0 rebounds per game, blocked 51 shots, recorded 25 steals and handed out 32 assists, filling up the stat sheet. Gan will be a defensive leader and looked upon to help fill the void left by the graduated Sheldon Jones and Russ Thompson.
 
Sabatino is coming off a second-team all-conference season in which he started every game. He averaged 13.0 points and 6.2 rebounds, shooting 57.3 percent from the floor, 38.1 percent from three and 80.4 percent from the line. Sabatino also had 52 blocks and 24 steals. This year, the Ducks hope Sabatino can continue to show improvement, hopefully becoming a dominant force on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
 
Guard Evan Klimchak (Readington, N.J.) will be leading a group of four sophomores. Klimchak earned valuable minutes as a freshman, growing in his role and in confidence as the season progressed. Klimchak was the Empire 8 Rookie of the Week after a fantastic performance at Elmira College, and finished 12-13 shooting 43.1 percent from three, 88.9 percent from the line and averaging 4.4 points per game.
 
Sophomore guard Kevin Zychowski (Mendham, N.J.) will be working towards an increased role this year after seeing action in 11 games for the Ducks. Zychowski put in a lot of work in the offseason and could be a valuable asset as a knock-down shooter.
 
Sophomore forward Logan McDonald (Lacey Township, N.J.) is also fighting for a larger role in 2013-14. The second-year player could prove to be important on the front line after showing a great deal of promise in limited action as a rookie. McDonald played in 13 games for the Ducks, playing double-digit minutes three times and pulling down 24 total rebounds.
 
Sophomore forward Alex Lorenz (Point Pleasant Borough, N.J.) is another student-athlete looking to see more minutes in his second season. Lorenz played 11 games as a rookie, scoring 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
 
Coach Hurley and his staff has brought six newcomers to the team in guard Michael Langford (Staten Island, N.Y.), forward Michael Signer (Rockaway, N.J.), guard Patrick Barron (Long Valley, N.J.), guard Thomas Ahern (Rockville Centre, N.Y.), guard Matthew Angelos (Philadelphia, Pa.) and forward Ian Bennett (Menlo Park, Calif.).
 
Langford is a feisty player with strong intangibles that will provide depth at the point guard position, while Signer and Bennett are skilled big-men that will provide size, depth and toughness up front for the Ducks. Barron, Ahern and Angelos will all see action at the wing position, showing ability to stretch the defense and knock down shots.
 
"We are looking for our younger guys to continue to show improvement and develop," Coach Hurley said. "All six have been working hard all preseason and we are all looking forward to seeing them grow throughout their respective careers."
 
 After opening in York, Stevens will play host Kean and FDU-Florham before visiting Rutgers-Newark. The Ducks close out first semester action with home battles against Baruch and NYU, and begin 2014 with Empire 8 home games against Utica College and Ithaca College – two teams that the Ducks saw in the Empire 8 Tournament a season ago.
 
Senior Day is slated for February 21 against Elmira College in the conference and regular-season finale, and the E8 Championship is slated to begin on February 28. Stevens was recently picked to finish third in the preseason poll.
"Our goal is to come out each night with great energy, effort and intensity," Hurley added. "If we do those things, play solid individual and team defense as well as consistently take quality shots on the other end, I think we will be okay. I know everyone – players and coaches alike – are looking forward to the season."