HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 5, 2020)  – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team shot a season-high 58 percent from behind the arc en route to an 82-72 victory over Wilkes University Wednesday in a MAC Freedom contest played at Canavan Arena.

Senior Spencer Cook scored a team-high 23 points to post his fifth straight game of at least 20 points to lead the offense. The reigning MAC Freedom Offensive Player of the Week made 8 of his 15 attempts from the floor, including six of his nine 3-pointers. Cook increased his season average to a conference-leading 19.8 points per game and closed to within nine points of moving into 10th place on the program's career scoring leaderboard.

Junior Alec DiPietrantonio narrowly missed out on his 11th double-double of the year with 18 points and nine rebounds, although the Mount Laurel, New Jersey native added three blocks and is now two away from 100 career rejections. Graduate student Kevin Florio added 11 points and a pair of steals for the Ducks, who won their third straight to improve to 16-4 on the year and 7-2 in conference play. Stevens' victory, combined with DeSales' victory over FDU-Florham  and Eastern's loss at King's leaves a three-way tie at the top of the MAC Freedom standings.

Rob Pecorelli poured in a game-high 30 points and Jake Robel came off the bench to chip in eight points and nine rebounds for Wilkes, who fell to 9-11 on the year and 2-7 in conference play. The Colonels have dropped two straight and six of their last seven. 

Entering the game with a top-10 national ranking in both field-goal percentage defense and 3-point field-goal percentage defense, it was the Stevens offense that contributed to the win. The Ducks made 14 of their 24 attempts from behind the arc and 18 of their 21 free throws to secure the victory. The team's 85.7 (18 for 21) shooting percentage from the line is the Ducks' second-best mark of the season behind a perfect 5 for 5 effort against Delaware Valley on Jan. 8.

A back-and-forth first half saw Wilkes shoot 65 percent from the floor in the early going to build a 10-point lead after a Drake Marshall triple before the home team's offense woke up in the latter stages of the opening period. DiPietrantonio began the comeback with a pair of free throws before Cook hit a long three to force a Wilkes timeout. 

Over a 3:20 stretch, five different players scored to help Stevens take a 38-33 lead. The teams would trade baskets before a 3-pointer by senior Dylan Walsh gave the Ducks a 45-39 lead at the intermission.

Similar to the ebb and flow of the second half, it was Wilkes that opened the second half strong, outscoring Stevens 14-2 over the first 6:16. An increase in defensive focus spurred the Ducks back into the game and forced the Colonels into two fewer field goals on five more attempts over the game's final 20 minutes. 

Florio drew a key offensive foul with the Ducks holding a four-point lead before hitting perhaps the biggest three-pointer of the night late in the second half to secure the comfortable victory.

Pivotal Point

• Clinging a three-point lead with just over four minutes left in regulation, the Ducks went on an 8-0 run that created needed separation between the teams.
• Senior Michael Zignorski sank a pair of free throws to push the lead to five and Florio drained a long three to give the Ducks a 73-65 lead and force a Wilkes timeout.
• Zignorski stripped Robel on the next possession and Cook sank a three of his own to push Stevens' lead to 11. 

Inside the Numbers

• Wilkes ended up outshooting Stevens, 47.5% to 43.9. However, the Ducks' doubled the Colonels on three-pointers (14-7) and free throws (18-9).
• Joining Cook in having an effective night from behind the arc were Florio (3 for 4), Walsh (1 for 1) and senior JoJo Mosca (2 for 5 in the first half). Mosca also added a key block in the second half.
• Freshman Matt Crowley dished out a game-high seven assists as the Ducks had 20 assists on their 25 baskets.
• The Ducks forced the Colonels into exactly 21 turnovers in each of their two meetings. Stevens turned tonight's 21 Wilkes turnovers into 23 points.
• The Ducks won the battle of the boards, 33-30, including a 12-11 margin on the offensive glass. The edge in offensive rebounds helped the Ducks garner am 18-14 edge in second-chance points.
• Stevens did not allow a fast-break point for the second straight game.
• The game featured six ties and nine lead changes.
• After beginning the game by converting eight straight field-goal attempts in their first meeting DiPietrantonio connected on his first three attempts in tonight's game. He finished 5 for 8 from the field and 8 for 9 from the line. The eight made free throws matched a career high.

Unsung Hero

• Making his second start of the season, Zignorski filled the stat sheet with nine points, five rebounds, a pair of assists and a season-high matching three steals. He finished a game-high +20.

From the Court (Head Coach Bobby Hurley)

• "I was very happy with tonight's game. We struggled at times on both ends of the floor, but it was great to see our group not get rattled and continue to battle. We made some great plays down the stretch to separate from Wilkes and secure the game."

Up Next

• Men's Basketball heads to Dallas, Pennsylvania for the second of two meetings with Misericordia on Feb. 8. The Ducks topped the Cougars 81-61 on Jan. 18 in what was believed to be the first meeting between the programs.
• Links for live stats and video are available on StevensDucks.com.

Facebook: "Like" Stevens Athletics         
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks
#AllRise