HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 28, 2022)  – Graduate student Alec DiPietrantonio and first-year Jack Spellman each posted a double-double but the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team fell to Hamilton College 70-64 in overtime Friday in a non-conference tilt at Canavan Arena.

Graduate student Matt LaCorte had 15 points and junior Matt Crowley added 12 for the Ducks, who were outscored 17-11 in overtime. The Ducks saw their four-game winning streak come to an end in falling to 8-7.

Patrick Mogan and Nick Osarenren each posted a double-double for Hamilton, who won its second straight to improve to 11-8. It is believed to be the first meeting between the teams. 

DiPietrantonio went 6 for 13 from the field and 2 for 5 from the line to finish with 14 points. The Ocean City, New Jersey native also pulled down 15 rebounds to complete his fourth straight double-double, bringing his season total to nine. With his 15-rebound performance, DiPietrantonio became just the second player in program history to reach 800 career boards. He is 193 shy of joining the exclusive 1,000-1,000 club. He ranks fifth in the MAC Freedom in scoring and is tied for the league lead in rebounding.

Spellman made 6 of his 16 attempts from the floor and 2 for 4 from the line to finish with 15 points, his sixth double-digit scoring effort of the season. He also pulled down four offensive boards and nine on the defensive side to finish with a career-high 13 rebounds and his third double-double. It is the second time this season that Spellman joined DiPietrantonio in reaching double figures in both points and rebounds. 

The Ducks rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final five minutes, outscoring the Continentals 12-4 down the stretch to force overtime. DiPietrantonio began the stretch, scoring on a put-back layup to draw the Ducks within six. Crowley would strip Elliott Tirbaso and score on a fast-break layup, while drawing contact from Hamilton's Owen Kane. Crowley would complete the three-point play and feed DiPietrantonio for an easy layup to bring Stevens within one.

Crowley completed the comeback with a pair of free throws and the Ducks would take the lead on a long LaCorte three with just under two minutes left in regulation. After Osarenren went 1 for 2 at the line, the Ducks had a chance to win the game, but LaCorte's jumper didn't fall.

In overtime, Hamilton scored on its first possession, with Tirbaso connecting on his third 3-pointer of the game. Mogan scored on a put-back layup to push Hamilton's lead to five. Stevens would pull back to within one possession, but Hamilton hit a pair of free throws in the final 36 seconds to seal the game.

The pace of play increased significantly in the second half after the teams combined for just 38 points over the first 20 minutes. The teams battled back and forth with neither side holding more than a four-point lead. The teams had 10 lead changes and five ties and spent nearly half of the opening period (8:50) deadlocked. 

The contest concluded the Ducks' non-conference slate. 

Pivotal Point

• A Spellman layup brought Stevens within 67-64 with 20 seconds left in overtime, forcing a Hamilton timeout.
• After the restart, the Continentals broke the Stevens press, with Osarenren scoring on a fast-break layup to put the guests back up five. Getting fouled on the play, Osarenren hit the ensuing free throw to complete the three-point play.

Inside the Numbers

• Hamilton made two more baskets (26-24) than the Ducks on the same number of attempts (76). The Continentals shot 34.2% from the floor, while the Ducks shot 31.6. 
• Hamilton finished with a 10-4 edge in three-point field goals.
• The Continentals outrebounded the Ducks 61-51, just the fourth time the Ducks have been outrebounded this season.
• Hamilton had a 21-15 advantage on the offensive glass, although each team finished with 15 second-chance points.
• The Ducks held a 14-7 margin in fast-break points and a 36-20 edge in points in the paint.
• Mogan had a game-high five blocks and Hamilton finished with 11 blocks. DiPietrantonio had three rejections to lead the Ducks, while Spellman had two. Spellman ranks second in the MAC Freedom in blocks.
• Crowley had four assists to lead the Ducks.
• Stevens totaled 11 steals on 16 Hamilton turnovers. The Ducks converted those into 13 points. Junior Conor Coffey led the Ducks with three steals.
• DiPietrantonio has 16 offensive rebounds over his last two games.

Unsung Hero

• Sophomore Mike Goodall came off the bench to match a season-high with six rebounds, while also nabbing two steals.

From the Court - Head Coach Bobby Hurley

• "I thought it was a pretty good game between two really good defensive teams. Hamilton got some key rebounds and hit a few big threes down the stretch to pull away. We will definitely improve from this game and we're excited for the final month of the conference season."

Up Next

• Men's basketball resumes MAC Freedom play on Feb. 2 against DeSales in Center Valley.
• The Ducks have won two of the last three meetings between the programs.
• Links for live stats and video are available on StevensDucks.com.

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