CSI Edges Stevens in ECAC Metro Semis, 75-73
Rob Kulish
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (March 8, 2014) – Fourth-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology pushed top-seeded College of Staten Island to the limit Saturday, but ultimately fell 75-73 in a back-and-forth Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro Championship semifinal game.
Stevens had four players in double figures and were led by senior guard
Phillip DeSeignora (Boston, Mass.) who scored a team-best 17 points in just 25 minutes, connecting on 5-of-9 attempts from long range. Junior forward
Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.) scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds, with senior guard Andrwew Meszaros (Phoenxville, Pa.) tallying 14 points, pulling down eight rebounds and coming up with three steals. Senior guard
Matt Skrelja (Clark, N.J.) netted 12 points, grabbed four boards, and had a game-high six assists to go along with two steals, and junior forward
Kenny Gan (Hillsborough, N.J.) had five points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots. Sophomore guard
Evan Klimchak (Readington, N.J.) finished with seven points, three rebounds and three assists.
The Ducks pushed a CSI team that is now 27-3 to the absolute limit, shooting 44.3 percent from the field, 7-for-24 from three and 12-for-14 at the line. The Dolphins shot 43.5 percent from the field, connecting on 30 of their 69 field-goal attempts. Stevens attempts 61 shots from the floor, hitting 27. The Ducks had 15 assists and 21 turnovers, while CSI tallied 17 helpers and committed 16 turnovers. Each team grabbed 37 rebounds in the game, combining for 24 on the offensive end (11 for Stevens).
The hosts jumped out to an early 21-12 margin, eventually taking a double-digit lead at 30-20 with 8:25 remaining in the first half. Five-straight points from Sabatino sliced that deficit in half, and following a stop, a DeSeignora three-pointer cut the lead to two points.
The Dolphins responded to go back up by nine points with 1:49 left in the opening period, but the Ducks closed the half on a 7-0 run to get within two at the break (39-37). DeSiegnora hit a three and Klimchak scored four points in the mini-run for the Ducks that came over a span of just 59 seconds.
The second half was remarkable, with 10 ties and 12 lead changes with the largest lead being four points for Staten Island. The Ducks tied the game at 39 thanks to a Sabatino layup, and grabbed a one-point lead at 42-41 following a three-pointer from Meszaros.
CSI took a 52-50 advatange 8:10 into the final period, but a three-point play from Sabatino quickly handed the Ducks slight margin and the two teams continued to fight go blow-for-blow.
A three-pointer from senior guard
Bloochy Magloire (Staten Island, N.Y.) made it a two-point-game in favor of the Dolphins with a shade over seven minutes to play, but a Skrelja layup, a defensive stop and a layup from Meszaros handed the Ducks a two-point lead with 7:07 on the clock.
CSI would regain the edge when Magloire hit a jumper and a free throw after getting fouled, making the score 68-65 with 4:15 left, but the Ducks again fought back, tying the game at 70 apiece thanks to another DeSeignora three – his fifth of the afternoon.
The Dolphions scored twice sandwiched around a Stevens turnover to open a 74-70 lead, and despite having a chance to win the game at the buzzer with a three-pointer, the Ducks fell by the 75-73 final.
Stevens finishes its season with an overall record of 18-10. The Ducks have won at least 18 games each year since 2009-10 (five-straight seasons). CSI moves on to face Kean University in the ECAC Metro Title game Sunday evening at 5:30 p.m.