HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 5, 2022)  – Graduate student Matt LaCorte scored 18 of his season-high 22 points from behind the arc to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team to a come-from-behind 72-66 victory over King's College Saturday in a MAC Freedom matchup at Canavan Arena.

Juniors Conor Coffey and Matt Crowley each had 12 points for the Ducks, who moved to 9-8 on the year and to 8-4 in the conference. The Ducks are tied with Lycoming in the conference standings, a half-game ahead of both Delaware Valley and Arcadia. Stevens holds the head-to-head tiebreaker with both Arcadia and Lycoming.

Chris Patton came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points to lead King's, who dropped to 6-12 on the year and to 2-10 in league play. If the season ended today, the Monarchs would host FDU-Florham in the play-in game.

LaCorte scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half as the Ducks outscored the Monarchs 42-32 over the final 20 minutes to erase a first-half deficit. The Westfield, New Jersey native shot 4 for 8 (50%) from behind the arc and made his only attempt from inside the arc. LaCorte's efforts from long distance helped the Ducks to a season-high 14 3's, marking the fourth time in the last two full seasons that the team has finished with 14 triples. LaCorte previously sank eight from long distance to finish with 26 points on Jan. 22, 2020, while with Susquehanna. 

King's scored the game's first nine points before graduate student David Dixon scored off a nifty feed from junior Brett Bischoping finally broke through for the home team five minutes into the contest. 

The Ducks' barrage from long range coincided with the team's climb back into the contest. Coffey started things off with his first three of the game to pull Stevens within six. Sophomore Mike Goodall stripped Noah Tanner then fed LaCorte for a fast-break three to further cut into the deficit. Bischoping had his only basket of the game to pull Stevens within one, but the Ducks were unable to over take the Monarchs and trailed 34-30 entering the intermission.

Graduate student Alec DiPietrantonio opened second-half scoring with a layup off a pass from first-year Jack Spellman. The Ocean City, New Jersey native filled the stat sheet with four points, 10 rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals. Spellman joined DiPietrantonio in snagging 10 boards for his third straight double-digit rebounding effort.

After King's shot 52.2% from the floor in the first half, the Ducks, who entered with the third-lowest opposing field-goal percentage in the country, clamped down in the second half, holding the Monarchs to 38% in the second half, including a 2 for 10 performance from behind the arc.

As the stout Duck defense stifled the King's offense, the Ducks shot nearly 50% from the floor to overtake the visitors. LaCorte hit back-to-back threes to give Stevens its first lead at 45-42, with the second one coming after he stripped Peri Basimakopoulos. A Crowley jumper and another LaCorte three pushed the Stevens advantage to seven and the Ducks went 6 for 7 from the line to seal the victory.

Pivotal Point

• After King's took its only lead of the second half at 51-50, the Ducks came down the floor and jumped back in front on a Crowley three.
• DiPietrantonio grabbed an offensive board on the Ducks' next possession and shuffled it to Crowley, who took a step back into the left corner and calmly drained his second triple of the contest. The Westfield, New Jersey native scored all 12 of his points in the second half. 

Inside the Numbers

• The Ducks won the battle of the boards 40-26, including a commanding 15-4 edge on the offensive glass. The margin on the offensive boards helped Stevens to a 12-2 edge in second-chance points.
• The Ducks had 19 assists on their 24 baskets. Goodall and DiPietrantonio each had four to lead the Ducks. Tanner a game-high six to lead King's.
• Spellman blocked three shots and continues to lead the conference in blocks per game (2.4). 
• King's received a technical foul after a pair of flop warnings.
• Coffey set a career-high with four 3's.
• LaCorte nabbed three steals.

Unsung Hero

• Sophomore Frank Gelfman scored his fourth career basket on a put-back layup midway through the second half. The San Diego, California native finished +4 in four-and-a-half minutes. 

From the Court - Head Coach Bobby Hurley

• "We were not locked in to start the game and King's really got comfortable in the first half. We did a much better job defensively in the second half and our defense was able to spark our offense."

Up Next

• Men's basketball continues MAC Freedom play on Feb. 9 against Delaware Valley in Canavan Arena.
• Delaware Valley received a forfeit win over the Ducks on Jan. 5 per the Middle Atlantic Conference's forfeit policy at the time. 
• The Ducks swept the 2019-20 season series in what were believed to be the first two meetings between the teams.
• Links for live stats and video are available on StevensDucks.com.

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