Stevens Men’s Basketball Ranked Nationally After 5-0 Start
Rob Kulish
Complete Poll
HOBOKEN, N.J. (December 4, 2012) – After a 5-0 start to the 2012-13 season, the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s basketball team has jumped into the D3Hoops.com Top-25 for the first time since February 23, 2008. The No. 25 Ducks most recently earned a win at No. 24 Williams, coming back from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat the Ephs, 75-69.
The Ducks have jumped out of the gate by earning three wins on the road, one at a neutral site and one at home. Stevens started the year with a big win at Centenary and then defeated nationally-ranked William Paterson University in Hackettstown for the Comfort Inn Tip-Off title.
The Ducks then won at Fairleigh Dickinson University – Florham before taking a 58-55 win over Rutgers – Newark November 25 in Hoboken.
Stevens defeated the Ephs in Williamstown Saturday evening and will now open Empire 8 play Friday at Utica College. The Ducks’ final game before the New Year is at No. 21 New York University December 9.
“We have started the season strong, getting some solid wins against some very good teams,” Head Men’s Basketball Coach Bobby Hurley (Nutley, N.J.) said. “The start is nice, but we need to stay focused and continue to work hard so we are playing our best basketball come our tough conference schedule and the end of the year.”
Senior guards Sheldon Jones (Queens, N.Y.) and Russ Thompson (West Orange, N.J.) are currently leading the Ducks in scoring at 18.0 and 13.6 points per game, respectively. Junior guard Matt Skrelja (Clark, N.J.) is pacing the team in rebounding and assists as all five Stevens starters are averaging eight points per game or more.
Friday’s game at Utica will be broadcast live at www.Empire8.TV.