CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (February 12, 2020)  – Graduate student Kevin Florio scored a season-high 20 points, including 15 on 5 of 6 shooting from behind the arc, as the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team clinched a berth in the MAC Freedom Tournament with 76-64 victory over DeSales University Wednesday in conference matchup played at Billera Hall.

In addition to his prowess behind the arc, Florio made five of his six attempts from the line to finish two points shy of matching a career high. The Stamford, Connecticut native also pulled down four rebounds and nabbed three steals, including two in the final five minutes that helped to preserve the Ducks' fifth straight victory. 

Senior Spencer Cook and junior Alec DiPietrantonio each chipped in with 14 points for the Ducks, who swept the season series with DeSales to improve to 18-4 on the year and 9-2 in the MAC Freedom. The Ducks remain in a tie atop the conference standings with Eastern University, who defeated FDU-Florham 70-54.

In their first year in the MAC Freedom, the Ducks clinched a spot in the conference tournament and will play in the postseason for the fifth straight year, dating back to the program's tenure in the Empire 8 Conference. The Ducks can finish anywhere from first to third, however the Ducks are now in control of their own destiny for the conference's regular-season championship and the top seed in the postseason tournament.

Timmy Edwards netted a game-high 21 points and Dat Lambert came off the bench to add 14 for DeSales, who fell to 15-7 on the year and 8-3 in conference. Stevens' victory snapped DeSales' three-game winning streak in sweeping the season series . The loss dropped DeSales into third place in the conference standings. 

Stevens scored 11 straight points over the final three minutes of the first half to turn a 29-24 deficit into a 35-29 advantage at the intermission. Three different players scored during the run and senior Dylan Walsh was the recipient of an errant pass in the final seconds to preserve the halftime lead.

A nip-and-tuck affair throughout that featured six lead changes and four ties, Florio twice answered key DeSales second-half baskets with long threes to keep Stevens at an arm's length. With just under seven minutes left in the game, Pratt hit a three to bring the Bulldogs with four, but Florio answered 15 seconds later with a three of his own to reclaim the seven-point lead. Two minutes later, Lambert sank a three to again bring DeSales back to within four, but Florio answered the bell 12 seconds later with his final three of the game. He also forced a turnover on the next possession and made a pair of free throws to account for five points in 33 seconds.

Pivotal Point

• Clinging to a 65-62 lead, senior Michael Zignorski turned a broken play into two points with a driving basket off the right side of the window in the final seconds of the shot clock.
• After DeSales forced DiPietrantonio into the right corner, the junior post passed out of danger, finding Walsh outside the three-point arc. 
• Walsh fed Zignorski on the left wing with eight seconds left on the 30-second clock.
• After a brief pause, Zignorski drove hard into the lane and sent the ball towards the basket from the edge of the restricted area, while absorbing contact from DeSales' Alex House.
• The ball spun high off the backboard before falling into the basket to push the Ducks' lead to five. 
• The Jefferson, New Jersey native made the ensuing free throw to give Stevens a six-point lead advantage.

Inside the Numbers

• Stevens outshot DeSales 44.8% to 43.9. 
• The Ducks were a blistering 7 for 14 from behind the arc in the first half and finished the game with 10 threes.
• Florio's five threes matched a career high.
• DeSales won the battle of the boards, 36-32, including a 13-11 margin on the offensive glass. Despite the margin, it was Stevens that held a 16-9 advantage in second-chance points. 
• The Ducks committed 12 turnovers, while forcing 18 DeSales miscues. Stevens turned the Bulldogs' 18 turnovers into 16 points.
• Lambert's contributions helped DeSales hold a 25-17 edge in bench points.
• Florio and Cook each led Stevens with three assists. 
• DiPietrantonio and senior JoJo Mosca each had one block. DiPietrantonio is one block away from becoming the fifth player in program history to record 100 career blocks.

Unsung Heroes

• Senior Tyler McShea and freshman Brett Bischoping combined to score six points on 3 for 4 shooting over 19 minutes. The pair totaled seven rebounds and an assist.

From the Court (Head Coach Bobby Hurley)

• "Tonight was a great win. It wasn't pretty at times, but we battled for 40 minutes. We had many great contributions and Kevin shot the ball extremely well and he made some great defensive plays down the stretch."

Up Next

• Men's Basketball returns to Canavan Arena for a rematch with Eastern University on Feb. 15. The Eagles defeated the Ducks 73-65 on Jan. 25 in St. Davids. Sole possession of first place in the MAC Freedom will be on the line.
• Links for live stats and video are available on StevensDucks.com.

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