HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 17, 2021) – Playing in front of fans for the first time since March of 2020, the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team went toe-to-toe with nationally-ranked New Jersey City University before falling in the final minute 62-60,Wednesday night in a thrilling non-conference game at Canavan Arena.
With basketball fans inside of Canavan for the first time since Mar, 7, 2020, the Ducks gave their fans an exciting show over the first 20 minutes, holding the high-scoring Gothic Knights to just 7 for 32 from the field, including 0 for 8 from behind the arc, in building as much as a 14-point lead.
Junior
Conor Coffey had a career-high 17 points and graduate student Alec DiPietrantio each scored 17 points for the Ducks, who fell to 0-2. The result halted the Ducks' two-game winning streak in the series. Stevens is 3-7 all-time against their fellow Hudson County school.
Denzel Banks had 13 points and Michael Clement finished a basket short of a double-double for the Gothic Knights, who won their third straight to move to 3-1.
Facing a squad that entered the contest averaging 74 points per game, the Ducks frustrated the Gothic Knights in the half-court, forcing NJCU to take several rushed shots in the opening half. DiPietrantonio opened scoring on an alley-oop, with junior
Matt Crowley providing the pass. The teams traded baskets before the Ducks kept NJCU without a field goal for over four minutes, while building a nine-point lead.
Coffey turned in his best performance as a Duck, shooting an efficient 7 for 11 from the floor, including a 2 for 4 effort from behind the arc. The Monroe, New York native also pulled down three boards and blocked a shot. His previous career best was 14 last season against Yeshiva.
After the intermission, the Gothic Knights upped the pressure after the intermission and used a full-court press to both disrupt the Stevens offense and place the Ducks in foul trouble. However, the young Ducks didn't allow the Gothic Knights to pull away, keeping the margin at three possessions or fewer.
- Banks hit a long three to put NJCU back in front for good at 38-35 but Stevens remained in the contest thanks to timely baskets in the paint, where the Ducks held a 30-22 advantage.
Pivotal Point
- After trimming a 7-point deficit down to one after a Goodall jumper, the Ducks had a chance to reclaim the lead in the final minute.
- DiPietrantonio stripped Banks in the front court, giving the Ducks the ball, but a turnover gave the ball back to the Gothic Knights and forced the Ducks to foul.
Inside the Numbers
- Stevens held the high-powered Gothic Knight offense to just 19 for 58 shooting (33%).
- The Gothic Knights shot just 2 of 13 (15.4%) from behind the arc - a number that included an 0 for 8 performance in the first half.
- NJCU won the battle of the boards, posting a 50-39 margin, including a 16-12 edge on the offensive glass, although Stevens had an 11-8 edge in points in the paint.
- NJCU's Ryan Savoy, who came into the game third in the NCAA with 4.67 blocks per game, had a season-low two blocks.
- NJCU had just four assists - the lowest number for the team since Jan. 29, 2020, when the Gothic Knights had three against William Paterson.
- NJCU turned 16 Stevens turnovers into 15 points, but the Ducks could only muster five points on 19 NJCU miscues.
- Goodall led the Ducks with three steals, while Savoy had four to lead both sides.
From the Court - Head Coach Bobby Hurley
- "It's always a battle with NJCU. They are talented and well coached and tonight, they made more plays than we did. We definitely made progress since our last game, but we still have so much to improve on."
Up Next
- Men's Basketball continues its four-game homestand, taking on Catholic on Nov. 20.
- The Ducks have won each of the last three meetings between the teams.
- Stevens Athletics will be conducting a Thanksgiving food drive prior to the contest.
- Live stats and video links are available on StevensDucks.com.
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