BROOKLYN, N.Y. (December 5, 2019)  – Graduate student Kevin Florio drained two of his game-high four three-point baskets as part of a 17-0 run that propelled the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team over Brooklyn College, 78-68, Thursday in a non-conference contest played at the West Quad Gymnasium. 

Junior Alec DiPietrantonio recorded his second double-double in as many games with 24 points and 11 rebounds, both of which were game-highs. Senior Spencer Cook added three baskets from behind the arc. while going 4 for 4 from the line, to finish with 19 points as the Ducks moved to 7-0 for the first time since the 2007-08 season. 

Jordan Wright had 19 points and six boards for the Bulldogs, who fell to 1-6. The Ducks have won each of the last four meetings between the teams.

Trailing by five at the intermission after the hosting Bulldogs scored the final seven points of the first half, DiPietrantonio opened scoring in the second half on a nifty pass from Cook.The Ducks would reclaim the lead some six minutes later on a layup by senior Michael Zignorski. However, it was a nearly five-minute stretch two possessions later that secured the game.

Brooklyn's Michael Tesoreiero made a pair of free throws to draw the teams even at 40. The Ducks moved the ball into frontcourt against the Bulldogs' full-court pressure. Senior Dylan Walsh dribbled left-to-right around a Tyler McShea screen and found Florio, who was left open on the right wing. The Stamford, Connecticut native executed a perfectly-timed catch-and-release three and drained the three-point field goal to put Stevens in front for good.

The triple sparked a run of 17 straight points that broke open the contest. The stretch produced the Ducks' longest run of consecutive points this season. Florio netted another three two possessions later. Walsh would follow with a layup and freshman Matt Crowley connected on a fast-break layup to push the lead to double figures. Crowley and Cook combined for five points from the line and DiPietrantonio turned a Florio steal into another fast-break layup as Stevens took control of the contest. 

Pivotal Point

• Orri Cohen sank a three to bring Brooklyn with seven with just under four minutes to play.
• DiPietrantonio extended a possession with his fifth offensive board of the game. The third-year center quickly kicked the ball out to Cook, who was left open at the left wing after Brooklyn collapsed on the post player.
• Cook calmly connected on the long three to push the lead back to double figures. The Ducks would hold at least a double-digit lead over the remainder of the contest.

Inside the Numbers

• Stevens shot 51 percent from the floor (28 for 55), the team's second-highest mark of the season. 
• The Ducks held Brooklyn to just 35.7 percent, including 11 of 33 in the second half. Stevens tops the MAC Freedom in field-goal defense, holding opponents to just 37 percent shooting from the floor.
• Nine different players grabbed at least one rebounds as Stevens matched a season-high with 44 boards. Of the Ducks' 44 rebounds, a season-high 17 were on the offensive glass. The Ducks turned those 17 offensive boards into 20 second-chance points.
• DiPietrantonio blocked three shots and leads the MAC Freedom with 18. He's blocked at least one shot in nine straight games dating back to last season.
• Florio, Crowley and DiPietrantonio each handed out four assists. The Ducks recorded a season-high-matching 19 assists on 28 baskets. 
• Florio had four steals as the Ducks finished with eight thefts.
• Cook's four free throws moved his season percentage to a MAC Freedom-leading 89.4 percent. The Washington, New Jersey native has attempted and made more shots from the line than any player in the conference.

Unsung Hero

• Walsh finished with nine points and a season-high seven rebounds. Over the Ducks' first seven games, the Staten Island, New York native leads the team in minutes played. 

From the Court (Head Coach Bobby Hurley)

• "Brooklyn gave us fits tonight and it showed in the amount of turnovers we had. Taking care of the basketball is an area we still need to improve on. We defended well in the second half and that allowed us to stretch a lead and secure the win. We have a tough test on Sunday against Middlebury, but, we are excited to be back at home."

Up Next

• Men's Basketball returns home for just the second time this season on Sunday, Dec. 8 for a non-conference matchup with No. 4 Middlebury College.
• It will be the first meeting between the teams since Nov. 17, 2007.
• Links for live stats and video are available on StevensDucks.com.

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