Mosca
65
Stevens Stev 13-4,4-2 MAC Freedom
73
Winner Eastern East 10-7,5-1 MAC Freedom
Stevens Stev
13-4,4-2 MAC Freedom
65
Final
73
Eastern East
10-7,5-1 MAC Freedom
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Stevens Stev 23 42 65
Eastern East 28 45 73

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Stevens Athletic Communications

Men’s Basketball’s Rally Falls Short at Eastern, 73-65

Cook nets a game-high 22, but Ducks can't overcome first-half deficit

SAINT DAVIDS, Pa. (January 25, 2020)  – Senior Spencer Cook scored a game-high 22 points but the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team was unable to overcome a sluggish start in falling to Eastern University 73-65 Saturday in a MAC Freedom contest at the Eastern University Gymnasium.

Senior Kevin Florio added 15 points and classmate JoJo Mosca chipped in with eight points and a team-high five rebounds for the Ducks, who dropped to 13-4 on the year and to 4-2 in conference play. The setback dropped Stevens into third place, a full game behind Eastern and DeSales, although the Ducks currently hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against DeSales. 

Michael Bowlers came off the bench to lead Eastern with 21 points and nine rebounds as four different players hit double figures in the victory as the Eagles improved to 10-7 on the year and moved into a first-place tie atop the MAC Freedom standings at 5. It was believed to be the first meeting between the programs. Eastern hosts DeSales Wednesday evening in a first-place showdown.

After falling behind by double digits early in the first half, the Ducks slowly chipped away at Eastern's lead, pulling to within a single basket on Cook's fast-break layup with just under four minutes left in the opening period. Cook scored nine of his 22 points in the opening period and reached the 20-point plateau for the sixth time this season. He needs 107 points to move into 10th place in program history in career scoring.

After a hot shooting start to the second, which included threes from Cook and senior Dylan Walsh, a 13-4 run swelled Eastern's lead back to 13 with a little over eight minutes left to play. However, the pesky Ducks would not go away quietly, pulling to within five after a pair of free throws by Cook in the final minute, but William Blet beat the Stevens full-court pressure for the game's final basket to thwart Stevens' comeback bid.

Pivotal Point
  • After Cook's three-point play opened scoring, Eastern went on a 17-0 run over the next seven minutes to seize control of the game. 
  • Draig Ruff opened the game-changing sequence with a layup and five different players recorded at least one point, including Bowlers and Victory Pena, who each hit a three.
  • Mosca sank a three-pointer to end the sequence to bring Stevens within 17-6, but the Ducks were not able to reclaim the lead.

Inside the Numbers
  • Eastern made exactly 50 percent (25 of 50) of its shots from the floor, including 5 of 14 from behind the arc. The Eagles are one of just two teams over the first 16 games of the season to shoot 50 percent or better against the Stevens defense.
  • Stevens finished 23 of 55 from the field, including 8 for 21 on 3-point attempts. Florio hit five of his eight attempts, including four of his six shots from beyond the arc.
  • Eastern won the battle of the boards, 40-24. Stevens' 24 rebounds marked a season low. The Eagles also turned an 11-7 edge on the offensive glass into an 11-5 margin in second-chance points.
  • Florio and Cook each nabbed a team-high two steals.
  • Junior Maguire Sweeney nabbed Stevens' only block.
  • Senior Michael Zignorski led all players with five assists. 
  • Cook went 7 for 8 from the line and leads the conference with an 87.3 shooting percentage from the charity stripe.
  • The Ducks had a 6-3 advantage in fast-break points.

Unsung Hero
  • Mosca sank a pair of threes in the game and has connected on at least one shot from behind the arc in 13 of 17 contests this season. Of Mosca's 103 career baskets, 82 have been from three-point range.

From the Court (Head Coach Bobby Hurley)
  • "I thought Eastern came out and played really hard from the start. We dug ourselves a hole, but we battled back to make it a game. Unfortunately, we didn't make enough plays in the game, but credit to Eastern as they played well on both ends of the floor."

Up Next
  • Men's Basketball returns to Canavan Arena on Jan. 29 for a MAC Freedom matchup with FDU-Florham Campus.
  • Stevens has won 11 of the last 12 meetings between the programs.
  • Links for live stats and video are available on StevensDucks.com.

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