HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 23, 2022)  – Graduate student Matt LaCorte led four Ducks in double figures with 15 points as the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team defeated Wilkes University 71-61 Wednesday evening in a MAC Freedom quarterfinal game at Canavan Arena.

Graduate student Alec DiPietrantonio recorded his 12th double-double of the year with 11 points and 11 rebounds and juniors Matt Crowley and Conor Coffey each added 13 points for the Ducks, who won their sixth straight to improve to 14-8 on the year. The Ducks moved to 3-0 all-time in the MAC Freedom Tournament and are now 5-9 in conference tournaments under head coach Bobby Hurley.

Drake Marshall had 15 points and Trent Fisher posted a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 16 rebounds for Wilkes, who fell to 8-17. The Colonels dropped four of their final five games to close out the season. Stevens won all three meetings between the teams this season and moved to 4-3 in the all-time series. The setback moved Wilkes to 2-4 all-time in the MAC Freedom Tournament. 

LaCorte led the Ducks' offense in the first half, shooting 3 for 4 from the floor, with all three baskets coming from long distance. The Westfield, New Jersey native also made a pair of free throws to total 11 points. LaCorte also pulled down two rebounds and blocked a shot. In the second half, LaCorte made both of his attempts from the floor and nabbed a steal to help seal the victory. Over his last six games, LaCorte is shooting 43.1% (19 for 44) from behind the arc and averaging 14.3 points. 

Entering the game leading the nation in opponents' field-goal percentage (35.9%), the Ducks held Wilkes to 33.9% from the floor (20 of 59), including 8 for 30 (26.7%) from behind the arc. The Ducks have held 13 opponents under 35% from the floor this season.

Meeting for the second time in five days, Wilkes jumped out in front courtesy of a Sean Coller three only for LaCorte to answer with a three of his own. Crowley would hit a jumper and LaCorte would follow with another three to give the Ducks a five-point lead. While the offense was getting on track, the Ducks kept Wilkes off the board for over four minutes in taking control of the game. 

After jumping in front for good, Stevens would open as much as a 12-point lead in the first half after DiPietrantonio went 1 for 2 at the line. The Ducks held Marshall, an all-conference performer and the MAC Freedom's second-leading scorer, to just four points in the opening half.

The Ducks made over half of their shots in the second half, shooting 14 of 26, to secure the victory. A 7-0 run would push the Ducks' lead to 11 and Stevens would maintain a comfortable cushion down the stretch to claim the victory.

Pivotal Point

• Wilkes' Colin Post scored on a fast-break layup to cut the Stevens lead to six with just under eight minutes remaining in regulation. 
• The Ducks successfully ran their offense on their next possession, resulting in Coffey scoring on a driving layup. 
• Stevens forced a miss on the other end and Crowley followed with another driving layup to push the Ducks' lead back to double figures. The third-year guard was fouled on the play and made the free throw to complete the three-point play.

Inside the Numbers

• Stevens finished the game shooting 27 of 57 from the floor (47.4%). Two of the Ducks' top-four shooting performances to date came against the Colonels.
• The Ducks won the battle of the boards 42-38. First-year Jack Spellman joined DiPietrantonio in snagging 11 rebounds, including four on the offensive end. Spellman is averaging more than 10 rebounds over his last eight contests. DiPietrantonio is averaging just 12 boards over his last 11 games.
• Wilkes held a 14-12 edge on the offensive boards, leading to a 13-9 edge in second-chance points.
• Crowley and DiPietrantonio each recorded a team-high three assists. 
• The Ducks scored 30 of their 71 points in the paint. 
• Stevens led for all but 19 seconds of the contest. 
• LaCorte finished a game-high +14.

Unsung Hero

• Graduate student David Dixon had five points, a pair of rebounds and a steal in six minutes of action. The Brooklyn, New York native also sank his 12th career 3-pointer, and first as a Duck, in the first half. 

From the Court - Head Coach Bobby Hurley

• "I'm really happy with our result as I thought we competed and defended really well. Winning in the postseason is hard, but we made enough plays to advance. We will need to be sharper offensively and be better from the line on Friday night."

Up Next

• Men's Basketball hosts Misericordia on Feb. 25 in Canavan Arena. The teams split two regular-season meetings, with each program claiming a road victory. 
• Links for live stats and video are available on StevensDucks.com.

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