WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (January 28, 2023) – First-year Matt Leming nailed a 3-pointer as time expired to send the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team over Wilkes University 65-63 Saturday in a MAC Freedom matchup at the Marts Center.

The winning play began in the defensive end of the floor. Clinging to a one-point lead, Wilkes' Cayden Merrifield missed the front end of a one-and-one. Junior Frank Gelfman snagged the board and handed it off to junior Mike Goodall. Goodall crossed into the front court with just over seven seconds left in regulation. Goodall handed the ball off to senior Conor Coffey, who spun into the lane. Coffey then kicked it out to a wide-open Leming, who calmly drained the 3-pointer from the left wing to set off a celebration near center-court. Leming finished with five 3's on the day to post a team-high 18 points.

Senior Brett Bischoping had a career-high 13 points on 6 of 8 shooting and Goodall recorded his third career double-double with 14 points and 10 boards for the Ducks, who snapped a five-game losing streak in moving to 9-11 on the year and to 6-5 in conference play.

Trent Fisher had a game-high 25 points and matched Goodall with 11 rebounds to pace Wilkes, who dropped its second straight to fall to 10-9 on the year and to 5-5 in the MAC Freedom. The Ducks have won the last five meetings in the all-time series. 

Leming's heroics were part of an 11-0 run over the final 1:46 that saw the Ducks turn a nine-point deficit into a dramatic victory. It was actually Leming that began the run with a three to pull within six. The Haddonfield, New Jersey native then hit a pair of free throws to further cut into the deficit before Goodall drained a long three to pull the Ducks within one. While the Ducks were climbing back into the game, they also held Wilkes to a pair of misses, while also forcing a pair of turnovers.

The Ducks put on an impressive defensive display in the first half, holding Wilkes to just 18 points on 6 of 28 (21.4%) shooting. The Ducks used an 8-0 run to build as much as a 12-point lead after a Leming triple and a Bischoping layup. In shooting 4 for 10 from behind the arc in the first half, the Ducks nearly had as many baskets from long range as Wilkes (6) over the game's first 20 minutes. 

Inside the Numbers

• The Ducks finished with a narrow 33-32 edge on the boards, although Wilkes had a 9-7 advantage on the offensive glass. Despite Wilkes' edge in offensive rebounds, Stevens finished with a 12-7 lead in second-chance points.
• The Ducks finished with nine 3-pointers for the third time this season.
• Each team dished out 14 assists. Coffey paced the Ducks with six.
• First-year Brian Dolinick played a career-high 15 minutes and recorded his first career basket with a layup off a Goodall feed. Dolinick also recorded a pair of blocks. 
• Each team received 12 points off the bench.

Up Next

• Men's Basketball returns to Canavan Arena on Feb. 1 for a conference tilt with FDU-Florham.
• The Ducks rallied to defeat the Devils 55-50 in overtime on Dec. 7 and have won the last eight meetings in the all-time series.
• Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.

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