WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (February 26, 2021)  – Senior Alec DiPietrantonio recorded his 25th career double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds but the Stevens Institute of Technology fell to Wilkes University 69-66 Friday evening in a non-conference matchup at the Arnaud Marts Sports Center. 

Sophomore Matt Crowley finished with 12 points and junior Sashank Sindhia added a career-high 11 points in his first career start for the Ducks, who took to the floor for the first time in 357 days. Also making his first career start, sophomore Andrew Abujawdeh had nine points and a career-best five steals for Stevens, who fell to 0-1. 

Landon Henry led five Colonels in double-figures with 12 points and three assists and Drake Marshall pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds for Wilkes, who improved to 2-3. 

Trailing by two, Stevens had two chances to either retake the lead or force overtime in the final seconds. After Sean Coller's corner three put Wilkes back in front, sophomore Jacob Krantz's came up short on a corner three of his own, only for the Ducks to get a second crack at tying the score, thanks to a tie-up and a favorable possession arrow, although there were only four seconds left on the shot clock. On the ensuing play, DiPietrantonio's turn-around attempt was ruled to have not beaten the shot clock, returning possession to Wilkes. Marshall made one of two from the line to provide the final margin of victory.

Although Wilkes took an early lead, the resilient Ducks were able to claw back into the game, pulling to within three at the half. Junior Nate Carpenter scored his first points in nearly two years on a pretty feed from Crowley to open second half scoring and Crawley and Abujawdeh each added a fast-break layup of their own to pull Stevens even at 37.

An Abujawdeh steal led to another fast-break bucket, with Sindhia the recipient of the second-year guard's thievery, giving the Ducks their first lead of the game. After only a single fast-break point in the opening 20 minutes, the Ducks outscored Wilkes 11-5 on the break over the final 20.

The Ducks were able to work the inside-out game to build an eight-point lead on three different occasions, only to see Wilkes claw their way back into the game. Abujawdeh's three gave Stevens a 66-63 lead with 2:41 to play in the contest, but the straightaway triple would prove to be the Ducks' final basket of the contest.

Pivotal Point

• Trailing by one in the final minute, Wilkes began their game-winning play with 20 seconds on the shot clock.
• Marshall drove into the short corner and passed to Derek Heiserman at the free throw line. Heiserman took one dribble and kicked the ball back out to the right wing, right in front of the Wilkes bench.
• Henry received the pass and drove left around Heiserman's screen on Sindhia.
• Henry stopped just outside the restricted area and found Coller in the left corner for an open three that gave the home team a 68-66 lead.

Inside the Numbers

• Stevens shot 14 for 34 from the field in the second half and finished the game with a 39.7 shooting percentage. Wilkes shot exactly 12 for 30 from the field in each half to finish at an even 40 percent.
• The Ducks held a slim 41-39 edge on the glass, including a 9-6 advantage on the offensive boards. The edge in offensive rebounds helped Stevens gain a 6-5 edge in second-chance points.
• DiPietrantonio recorded the Ducks' lone block of the game.
• Stevens finished with 13 steals. Of the Ducks' 28 contests one season ago, only once did they record more than 13 thefts. 
• The Ducks turned 20 Wilkes' turnovers into 25 points. The Colonels netted 15 points off 16 Stevens miscues.
• Sophomore Peter White finished with a career-best eight points. The Ashburn, Virginia native made all three of his attempts from the line and connected on his only three-point attempt of the game. 
• The Ducks held a 36-22 margin in points in the paint. 
• Playing in his first game since Feb. 22, 2019, Carpenter finished with two points and two rebounds, while also making his first career start.
• Crowley recorded the Ducks' first points of the season on a pair of free throws, marking the first time in the Bobby Hurley era that a season's first points did not come on a field goal.

Unsung Hero

• In addition to his five steals, Abujawdeh finished 4 for 5 from the floor, including 1 for 1 from behind the arc. 

From the Court (Head Coach Bobby Hurley)

• "It was great to be back in action tonight. I think we were a bit too excited to start the game, but once we settled down, we were able to concentrate on the defensive end and execute offensively. Credit to Wilkes as they were able to make the plays down the stretch to win the game."

Up Next

• The return game of the home-and-home series takes place at Canavan Arena Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.
• Live stats and video links are available on StevensDucks.com.

Please note that all event times, dates and opponents are subject to change and fans remain prohibited from attending Stevens' home athletic events.

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