HOBOKEN, N.J.  (February 13, 2013) – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team is ranked third in the East Region in the second edition of Regional Rankings released by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Wednesday afternoon.
 
The University Rochester tops the East with a 19-2 in-region record (20-2 overall), while SUNY Cortland is second with the same in-region mark (19-3 overall). Stevens is 18-3 in region and 20-3 overall. Despite playing all of its games in-region, the Ducks' two wins over Houghton College are technically out of region because the Highlanders are a provisional member of NCAA Division III and the Empire 8 as they make the transition from Division II.
 
Behind the Ducks is Hobart College (15-6 in-region, 16-6 overall), Plattsburgh State (15-6 in-region, 15-7 overall) and Empire 8 foe Ithaca College (14-7 in-region, 15-7 overall).
 
Stevens has two games left on its regular-season slate, both Empire 8 road contests. The Ducks will visit Alfred University and St. John Fisher College Friday and Saturday. Two wins would give Stevens the Empire 8 regular-season crown as the Ducks currently hold a one-game lead on Ithaca College in the E8 standings. There are a number of other scenarios should the Ducks go 1-1 and 0-2 but Stevens will be no worse than the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Empire 8 Championship slated for February 22 & 23.
 
The Ducks, ranked 24th in the latest D3Hoops.com poll, also crack the top-50 in six team statistical categories. They are No. 7 in blocked shots per game (5.6) and 10th in won-lost percentage (87.0). Stevens is 18th in field-goal percentage defense (38.1), 37th in three-point field-goal percentage defense (30.1) and 43rd in scoring defense, allowing 61.9 points per game. The Ducks' plus-10 scoring margin is 45th.
 
Individually, senior guard Russ Thompson (West Orange, N.J.) checks in at No. 15 in three-point field-goal percentage (44.5) and at No. 27 in three-point field goals per game (2.83). Sophomore forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.) is 27th in field-goal percentage (59.1) and 42nd in blocked shots per game (1.87). Classmate and fellow forward Kenny Gan (Hillsborough, N.J.) is 30th in blocks per outing, averaging an even 2.0. Junior guard Matt Skrelja (Clark, N.J.) is No. 28 in steals per game, averaging 2.52, while senior guard Sheldon Jones (Queens, N.Y.) is 33rd in free-throw percentage (85.9).
 
Stevens will visit Alfred Friday night at 6 p.m. and St. John Fisher Saturday at 2 p.m. Check www.StevensDucks.com for links to the action on gameday.