JERSEY CITY, N.J. (November 12, 2019)  – Senior Spencer Cook returned to the court for the first time in nearly a year and scored a game-high 29 points to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team over New Jersey City University 81-75 Tuesday evening in a non-conference matchup at the John J. Moore Athletics & Fitness Center.

After suffering a season-ending injury on Nov. 16, 2018, Cook shot 8 for 15 from the floor, including 5 of 10 from beyond the arc, to lead three players in double figures as the Ducks won on opening night for the third time in the last four seasons. Cook matched a program record with a perfect 8-for-8 performance from the free throw line to send the Ducks over their Hudson County rival for the second straight year.

Graduate student Kevin Florio added 14 points, including four three-pointers, and senior JoJo Mosca came off the bench to drain a pair of triples, as Stevens shot a blistering 14 for 34 (41.2%) from behind the arc on the evening. Freshman Matt Crowley came off the bench to score 11 points to go along with five rebounds and five assists in his collegiate debut. Crowley made two free throws in the final 15 seconds to secure the victory.

Preseason All-American Sam Toney, who was named DIII News Preseason National Player of the Year earlier in the day, led NJCU with 17 points, but only made five of his 13 field-goal attempts. Jaimik Moore (14 points) and Jahmere Calhoun (11 points) also reached double figures for the Gothic Knights, who have gone 2-2 in their last four season openers. NJCU leads the all-time series 6-3.

After NJCU scored the first basket of the game, the Ducks went on a 15-2 run to take early control. Florio sparked the scoring with a long three and Cook drained a pair of triples to give the Ducks the early momentum.

Crowley netted his second basket of the night as Stevens' lead swelled to as many as 14 before the Gothic Knights went on a run of their own to trim the Ducks' advantage to five on a Toney jumper. However, the resilient Ducks would go on to score the next nine points to reclaim a double-digit lead. 

Although NJCU would go on to tie the score early in the second half, the Ducks actually never trailed in the game after Florio's three put them in front, 3-2. The Stamford, Connecticut native would again answer the call for a significant basket later in the game, hitting another long three early in the second, as Stevens reclaimed its lead after the Gothic Knights had rallied to knot the score at 39. The basket sparked a 9-2 run that again provided the Ducks with a comfortable margin.

Despite the strong start to the game, Stevens' lead was trimmed to four before Cook quieted the crowd with a buzzer-beating three that sent the teams into the intermission with the Ducks holding a 37-30 advantage. Cook netted 15 of his 29 points in the first half.

Pivotal Point

• Leading 60-51, a technical foul against the Ducks reenergized the NJCU faithful. 
• The Gothic Knights hit four straight free throws to trim Stevens' advantage to five with 7:33 left to play.
• After the teams exchanged missed, the Ducks kept a loose ball alive after a missed three-pointer to extend a possession.
• Senior Tyler McShea fed Crowley for a long three to push the Ducks' advantage back to eight. 

Inside the Numbers

• Stevens outshot NJCU, 45.8 percent to 30.3. The margin was especially noticeable in the second half, where the Ducks shot a red-hot 14 for 26 from the floor (53.6%), while the Gothic Knights made just 11 of their 37 attempts (29.7%). 
• NJCU made just three of its 14 three-point attempts
• NJCU shot 44 free throws, making 32 (72.7%), while Stevens made 13 of 21 (61.9).
• The Gothic Knights won the battle of the boards, 47-44, including an 18-9 edge on the offensive glass. Moore led all players with nine boards, while Cook and junior Alec DiPietrantonio each topped Stevens with five.
• Crowley and Cook each had five assists as the Ducks had 19 assists on 27 baskets.
• Although Stevens committed 25 turnovers, NJCU could only turn them into 19 points, while the Ducks parlayed 16 Gothic Knight miscues into 14s.
• DiPietrantonio had four blocks to lead all players.
• McShea returned to the floor for the first time since Jan. 21, 2017 and recorded his first collegiate basket over 15 minutes on the floor.
• Freshmen Brett Bischoping, Jacob Krantz and Conor Coffey each made their collegiate debut.
• Sophomore Sashank Sindhia made his first career three-pointer over eight minutes. 
• NJCU held a 15-10 advantage in second-chance points, while the Ducks held the edge in bench points (25-23).

Unsung Heroes

• Senior Dylan Walsh led the defensive efforts that largely kept Toney and company in check in the paint. NJCU's starting center, Quadri Moore, a three-year player at the University of Cincinnati, was held to just 1 for 8 shooting. Each team finished with 22 points in the paint.

From the Court (Head Coach Bobby Hurley)

• "Great win for our team to start the season. We knew it would be a battle for 40 minutes and we were lucky to make a few more plays than NJCU. We have a lot to improve on, but our effort tonight was great."

Up Next

• Men's Basketball heads to Saratoga Springs, New York for a matchup with Skidmore College. 
• It will be the first meeting between the programs since Nov. 16, 2007, where the Ducks came away with a 72-55 victory in Canavan Arena.
• Live stats and video links are available on StevensDucks.com

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