HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 18, 2023) – Sophomore Jack Spellman had a game-high 18 points and nine rebounds, but the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team fell to DeSales University 66-57 Wednesday night in a MAC Freedom matchup at Canavan Arena.

Junior Mike Goodall and first-year Matt Leming each had 10 points for the Ducks, who dropped their third straight in falling to 8-9 on the year and to 5-3 in conference play. 

Christian Guldin came off the bench with 15 points and Devin Atkinson also came off the bench to add 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds for DeSales, who improved to 14-3 on the year and to a perfect 8-0 in the MAC Freedom. DeSales improved to 6-2 all-time against the Ducks.

In a game that featured seven lead changes and three ties, the Ducks' defensive efforts in the first half held the MAC Freedom's second-best scoring offense to just 22 points on 8 of 27 shooting, matching the Bulldogs' lowest point total in any half this season. The Ducks forced nine first-half turnovers and limited DeSales' transition opportunities (0 fast-break points) and took the lead going into halftime on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Goodall. The one-point advantage marked just the fourth time this season that DeSales trailed at halftime.

Spellman scored seven of the Ducks' first nine points of the game, including a 3-pointer off a feed from junior Frank Gelfman, that gave the Ducks their first lead of the game. The Ducks would hold the lead for the majority of the opening period. The teams remained locked in a tight battle and DeSales would take its first lead at 22-20 on a three by Jordan Holmqvist.

After a defensive battle in the first half, both teams shot the ball significantly better in the second half. Guldin was the offensive sparkplug for DeSales going a perfect 4 for 4 from behind the arc and 3 for 5 from the line over the final 20 minutes to score all 15 of his points. As a team, DeSales shot 7 for 11 (63.6%) on 3-pointers after shooting 25% from 3-point range in the first half. While the Ducks made 60% of their 3-pointers, they did so on just five attempts for a 12-point disparity.

The Bulldogs' hot shooting from long range helped open a seven-point lead after a short jumper by Devin Atkinson, matching the largest advantage for either team to that point, but the resilient Ducks responded in short order. Goodall sparked the Ducks with a long three and Leming followed with a perfect 3 for 3 performance from the line after getting fouled on a 3-point attempt to bring the Ducks within two. However, DeSales connected on consecutive threes in a 59-second span to push the lead back to a comfortable eight points with just under four minutes left in regulation. 

A late three-pointer by senior Conor Coffey again trimmed the Ducks' deficit, but DeSales went 5 for 6 from the line in the final minute to close out the contest.

Inside the Numbers

• DeSales won the battle of the boards, 41-30, including an 11-4 margin on the offensive glass. The advantage in offensive rebounding led to an 11-2 edge in second-chance points. Interestingly, each team pulled down exactly 18 defensive rebounds in the first half. 
• Coffey and DeSales' Mason Barnes each dished out a game-high four assists.
• Spellman and senior Brett Bischoping each blocked a shot.
• The Ducks held a 6-2 edge in fast-break points. 
• The Ducks forced 13 DeSales turnovers, while only committing 11. 
• Each team scored 24 points in the paint. 

Up Next

• Men's Basketball heads to Dallas, Pennsylvania to take on Misericordia on Jan. 21 in another conference contest.
• The Ducks defeated the Cougars 82-75 inside Canavan Arena on Dec. 3 in the last meeting between the teams and have won the last three meetings between the teams. 
• Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.

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