NEW YORK, N.Y. (November 26, 2019)  – Senior Spencer Cook and junior Alec DiPietrantonio each netted a game-high 17 points as the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team held off Baruch College 82-74 Tuesday evening in a non-conference matchup at the Baruch ARC.

Graduate student Kevin Florio scored 12 points and senior Dylan Walsh added 10 as the Ducks had four players score in double figures for the third straight game in moving to 5-0. The five straight wins to open the season marks the best start for the program since the 2012-13, when Stevens reeled off six in a row to open the season in the best start under current head coach Bobby Hurley.

Adnan Bajrami topped Baruch with 16 points and Benjamin Boateng matched DiPietrantonio with a game-high nine rebounds as the Bearcats fell to 3-2. The loss snapped Baruch's two-game winning streak. The Ducks have won each of the last two meetings between the programs and seven of the last nine.

After a tight first half that saw the Ducks close the opening 20 minutes with a four-point advantage, Stevens used a hot-shooting second half to secure the victory. The Ducks shot a blistering 59.1 percent from the floor (13 for 22), including 3 for 5 from behind the arc. An aggressive offense, paired with late-game fouling, led to Stevens taking 23 attempts from the line, where the Ducks made 17, including six in the final two minutes to secure the victory.

Cook, the reigning MAC Freedom Offensive Player of the Week, recorded his fifth straight game with at least 16 points. The Washington Township, New Jersey native went 6 for 6 from the line, improving his free-throw percentage to 92 percent. Cook also added pulled down a season-high seven rebounds, while dishing out five assists for the third time this season.

DiPietrantonio finished one rebound shy of his second double-double of the season. The third-year center shot 8 for 14 from the field, while making his only attempt from the line. He ranks fifth in the MAC Freedom in field-goal percentage (0.533) and leads the league in blocks per game (2.6).

Pivotal Point

• A free throw pulled the hosting Bearcats within two (55-53) with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game.
• Freshman Matt Crowley fed Cook for a long three to push the lead back to five.
• Consecutive layups by DiPietrantonio and Florio completed the 7-0 run, and provided the Ducks with a nine-point cushion/
• Stevens would hold at least a two-possession lead for the remainder of the game.

Inside the Numbers

• For the game, Stevens shot 48.1 percent from the floor, while Baruch shot 40.3.
• The Ducks' 82 points marked a season high. The team scored 22 points from the line for the second time this season.
• Stevens sank eight threes for the second straight game.
• Baruch won the battle of the board, 39-34.
• Each team scored six fast-break points.
• The Ducks turned 10 Baruch turnovers into 12 points in the second half as they built a double-digit lead.

Unsung Hero

• Junior Maguire Sweeney made a pair of threes to finish with a season-high six points over 10 minutes. He also recorded the second block of his collegiate career.

From the Court (Head Coach Bobby Hurley)

• "We were very lucky to escape NYC with a win tonight. Baruch's defense bothered us, but we made just enough plays to find a way to win. We need to improve our rebounding and we need to limit our turnovers moving forward."

Up Next

• Men's Basketball returns from Thanksgiving Break Sunday, Dec. 1 for the annual meeting with Rutgers-Newark.
• The Ducks have dropped two straight to the Scarlet Raiders, including a 75-64 setback last season in Canavan Arena.
• Links for live stats and video are available on StevensDucks.com.

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