Kelly Shea

Box Score

Stevens Stev 13-14,9-7 MAC Freedom

DeSales DSU 21-5,14-2 MAC Freedom

Stevens Stev

13-14,9-7 MAC Freedom

Final

Feb. 22, 2023

DeSales DSU

21-5,14-2 MAC Freedom

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Stevens Stev	29	33	62
DeSales DSU	27	38	65

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 2/23/2023 11:13:00 AM | Stevens Athletic Communications

Heartbreak!! Men’s Basketball Falls at Top-Seeded DeSales 65-62 in MAC Freedom Semis

Spellman and Coffey each with 19 points but Ducks fall to DeSales

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (February 22, 2023) – Sophomore Jack Spellman posted his third double-double in the last four games with 19 points and 12 rebounds, but the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team fell to top-seeded DeSales University 65-62 Wednesday night in a MAC Freedom semifinal matchup at Billera Hall.

Trailing by eight with a little more than a minute left in regulation, the outcome appeared to be cemented after a turnover led to fast-break opportunity for DeSales' Elijah Eberly. However, Spellman hustled back down the court and rejected Eberly's dunk. Senior Conor Coffey grabbed the rebound and found first-year Matt Leming for an open three to pull the Ducks within five.

After a timeout, the Ducks quickly fouled and sent DeSales to the line. Ryan Boylan made one of his two free throws. Spellman's layup attempt on the Ducks' next possession was blocked, but the ball sailed out of bounds to keep the ball with Stevens. On the restart, junior Alex Ratner found Coffey in the corner, and although the shot was well-contested, Coffey drained the 3-pointer right in front of the Stevens bench to cut the deficit to just three.

The Ducks would immediately foul, and Mason Barnes missed the first of his two free throws. After a Stevens timeout, Barnes missed the second and Spellman grabbed the rebound and the Ducks quickly moved up the court with 15 seconds left. Coffey attempted a step-back 3-pointer, over Eberly's outstretched arm. Sophomore Jack Liedtka kept the Ducks alive by scrambling for the loose ball and created a held-ball situation and with the possession arrow favoring Stevens, the Ducks had one last chance to force overtime with 2.3 seconds on the clock.

After each side took a timeout, Ratner began the final play of the game. Coming around a screen, Coffey received the pass, nearly on the exact opposite side of the court as his previous basket. Coffey elevated over the right arm of the Bulldogs' Christian Guldin, but the rusher shot didn't fall.

Coffey matched Spellman with 19 points and Ratner finished with 10 for the Ducks, who dropped to 13-14. The setback was the Ducks' first in MAC Freedom Tournament play.

Nate Ellis came off the bench with a game-high 20 points and Eberly finished with 10 for DeSales, who won for the third time in its four games to improve to 21-5. DeSales will take on third-seeded Arcadia Saturday in the MAC Freedom title game. The Knights defeated second-seeded Lycoming 74-73 on a last-second free throw.

The Ducks used a 6-0 run in the first half to take a two-point lead at halftime. Coffey and Spellman led the Ducks' offensive efforts as the pair combined for 22 of the team's 29 first-half points. However, where the Ducks excelled in the first half was on the defensive side of the floor, holding the Bulldogs to just 34% shooting and significantly under their season scoring average.

When play resumed in the second half, the teams traded baskets with Stevens continuing to hold the lead until a six-point run by DeSales, capped off by an Ellis three put the home team back in front. The teams would ping-pong the lead back and forth until hit a floater in the paint with 7:15 left in the game to put DeSales in front for good.

Spellman's rejection of Eberly's dunk was the Westfield, New Jersey native's fifth of the game and 84th of the season to establish a new program, eclipsing the previous mark held by assistant coach Michael Collins since the 2003-04 season. Spellman is on track to break the program record for career blocks next season.

Inside the Numbers

Spellman's efforts on the glass helped the Ducks gain a 38-37 edge in rebounding, although the Bulldogs held a 14-11 edge in offensive rebounds.
Spellman's 12 boards left the sophomore forward with an even 10 rebounds per game average marking the second straight year that the Ducks have had a player average double-digit rebounds per game.
Ratner dished out a team-leading four assists. Ellis had six to lead all players.
The Ducks were a perfect 9 for 9 from the line; Spellman went 7 for 7 to lead the efforts.
Coffey finished with a team-high three 3-pointers. The Monroe, New York native shot 50% from behind the arc over two postseason contests.
Coffey and junior Mike Goodall each nabbed one steal.

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