HOBOKEN, N.J. – After a 3-0 week, an 11-1 start to the season and a 4-0 Empire 8 mark, the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s basketball team finds itself back in the D3Hoops.com Top 25 for the second time this season, this time at No. 24.
The Ducks were first seen in the poll after starting the year 6-0 and getting wins over two nationally-ranked teams in William Paterson University and Williams College. Stevens debuted at No. 25 but dropped out of the ranks when it fell at No. 21 New York University to close out play in 2012.
The Ducks have opened 2013 action well, winning their first five games and improving to 11-1 overall. Last week, the Ducks won at New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) foe Kean University before earning a pair of home conference wins vs. Alfred University and St. John Fisher College.
Stevens is currently tied atop the conference standings with Ithaca College (4-0) and following Tuesday’s showdown with the United States Merchant Marine Academy, it will host Nazareth College and Houghton College in a pair of E8 tilts Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
According to the latest NCAA statistical release, the Ducks check in at No. 10 in blocked shots per game (5.3), No. 11 in won-lost percentage (91.7 percent) and No. 19 in field-goal percentage defense (38.4 percent). The Ducks are 38th in field-goal percentage (48.0 percent) and 45th in scoring margin (plus-10.6).
Individually, Patrick Sabatino is 15th nationally in field-goal percentage, making 62.5 percent of his shots, with Russ Thompson checking in at No. 35 in three-point field-goal percentage (43.6) and No. 46 in three-point field goals per game (2.83). Senior guard Sheldon Jones, who leads the team in scoring, is currently 42nd in free-throw percentage (85.7 percent), while sophomore forward Kenny Gan is 43rd in blocked shots per game.
Stevens will return to the hardwood on Tuesday evening when it hosts the United States Merchant Marine Academy at 7 p.m. in Canavan Arena. All the action will be webcast live at
www.Empire8.TV.
D3hoops.com Top 25