DiPietrantonio
72
Winner Stevens Stev 20-4,11-2 MAC Freedom
70
FDU-Florham FDU-F 11-13,6-7 MAC Freedom
Winner
Stevens Stev
20-4,11-2 MAC Freedom
72
Final
70
FDU-Florham FDU-F
11-13,6-7 MAC Freedom
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Stevens Stev 39 33 72
FDU-Florham FDU-F 39 31 70

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

Men’s Basketball Holds Off FDU-Florham 72-70 for Seventh Straight Win

DiPietrantonio posts 12th double-double of the year as Ducks inch closer to MAC Freedom regular-season title

MADISON, N.J. (February 18, 2020)  – Junior Alec DiPietrantonio posted his 12th double-double of the year with a season-high 26 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team to a 72-70 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus Tuesday in a MAC Freedom contest played at the Ferguson Recreation Center.

Senior Spencer Cook added 18 points and freshman Matt Crowley chipped in with nine points, six rebounds and six assists for the Ducks, who won their seventh straight game to improve to 20-4 on the year and 11-2 in the MAC Freedom. Stevens can win its first conference regular-season title since the 2012-13 season with a victory over King's Saturday in the regular-season finale. A loss to the visiting Monarchs combined with an Eastern win over Misericordia in St. Davids will result in a tie between the Ducks and the Eagles at the top of the conference standings, giving Eastern the top overall seed in the conference tournament via tiebreaker. Eastern defeated DeSales 80-71 to remain one game behind the Ducks. 

Kenneth LaRocca led four different Devils in double figures with 19 points. Andy Fleurantin added 16 points and eight rebounds for FDU-Florham, who dropped to 11-13 on the year and 6-7 in conference play. FDU-Florham has alternated wins and losses over its last eight games. The Devils are tied with King's for the final berth in the conference tournament.

In a back-and-forth battle that featured 12 lead changes and six ties, the contest came down to the final possession. Leading by two, senior Michael Zignorski was called for a questionable offensive foul that returned the ball to FDU-Florham with 12 seconds left in regulation. After a timeout, Stevens used its final foul before FDU would enter the bonus to set up the game's final play. 

With 4.6 seconds on the clock, Andrew Schulz inbounded the ball from directly in front of his bench and found Fluerantin on the right wing, coming off a screen. FDU's sharp-shooter fired a fadeaway jumper from well behind the arc over the outstretched right arm of graduate student Kevin Florio. The desperation shot was left of the rim and hit the glass to give Stevens its 13th victory over FDU-Florham in the last 14 meetings.

The Ducks turned in their usual strong defensive effort, holding the Devils to under 40 percent from the field and under 35 percent from behind the arc. Stevens continues to rank among the nation's leaders in field-goal percentage defense and the Ducks lead the MAC Freedom in scoring defense.

DiPietrantonio turned in his top offensive output of the season to pace the Ducks as Stevens shot 56 percent from the floor in earning the victory. The Mount Laurel, New Jersey native shot 13 for 22 from the field in posting his fifth game of 20 points or more this season. DiPietrantonio opened the game with four straight baskets and scored each of the Ducks' first 10 points. The first non-DiPietrantonio points came on a three-pointer by senior JoJo Mosca seven-and-a-half minutes into the contest. DiPietrantonio pulled down two offensive rebounds and nine on the defensive glass en route to reaching double figures in rebounds for the 25th time in his career. 

In their two-games against FDU-Florham this season, the Ducks have made 66 of their 113 attempts from the floor (58.4 percent), including 15 of 33 (45 percent) from behind the arc. Two of the Ducks' top-three shooting performances of the season have come against the Devils.

Inside the Numbers
  • Stevens has reached the 20-win plateau for the sixth time in program history.
  • Stevens held a 39-29 advantage on the boards.
  • The Ducks' edge in rebounding helped Stevens score a 7-5 edge in second-chance points.
  • The teams combined for just eight free throws.
  • Stevens did not block a shot for just the second time this season.
  • Cook led Stevens with two steals.
  • DiPietrantonio's 13 made field goals are the most by a Duck this season. 
  • FDU only made 10 non-three-point field-goals.

From the Court (Head Coach Bobby Hurley)
  • "Alec was great inside for us tonight, but at times, we got away from executing our offense. FDU stretches the floor offensively, and at times, we struggled guarding the three-point line. Fortunately, for us, we got the stop to end the game and secure the win."

Up Next
  • Men's Basketball closes out the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 22 against King's College at Canavan Arena.
  • The Ducks topped the Monarchs 76-60 on Jan. 15 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in the first meeting between the programs since 2009.
  • Links for live stats and video are available on StevensDucks.com.

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