On Monday, December 4, junior Jack Spellman was declared a MAC Freedom Player of the Week, the third of his career and first of the 2023-2024 season. Spellman’s title was awarded following his 12 points, 10 boards, and 11 blocks against St. Joseph’s University Long Island, and 22 points, 18 rebounds, 11 blocks, and three assists against Hood College.
On Wednesday, November 29, the Ducks took on St. Joseph’s University Long Island and secured a victory of 90-64 and brought their win-streak to five, having only lost their season opener. By break, Spellman had made 11 blocks and first-year Kyle Maddison had scored 11 points, assisting in their 14 point lead. The second half began with Spellman and graduate Stephen Braunstein making a jumper and three-pointer respectively, increasing the deficit by five points. Additions of graduate Conor Coffey, sophomore Matt Leming, and first-year Harmehar Chhabra resulted in the Ducks final victory margin of 26. Overall, Braunstein scored a season high of 29 points, and Spellman achieved the second triple-double of his career in just 17 minutes during this game, further contributing to his award of Player of the Week. This game also saw a 100% success rate for the team when shooting from the line.
The following Saturday, December 2, the Ducks took on Hood College in Frederick, MD. Braunstein, senior Mike Goodall, and Leming led the team with a respective 18, 16, and 15 points. Coffey made an additional 12 points, paired with seven boards and five assists, leading to the Ducks’ victory of 85-66, and breaking Hood College’s three win-streak. The Ducks also made 16/30 of their long range baskets, equating a 53.3% success rate, which is the second most of a MAC Freedom team this far into the season, and the most from Stevens since 2016.
Head coach Bobby Hurley achieved his 250th career win following the Ducks’ defeat of Brooklyn College on Tuesday, December 5. By this game, Spellman had accumulated 189 blocks and passed alumnus Patrick Sabatino for the program record. Throughout the first half, the Ducks and Bulldogs fought back and forth for the lead, although the Ducks proved victorious on a 9-0 run at the end of the half and a seven point deficit at break. Braunstein then made another three-pointer just 18 seconds into the second half, increasing the team’s lead to a full 10 points. The Ducks ensured a 25 point victory with the help of Goodall’s back-to-back baskets, and Braunstein and Coffey’s multiple three-pointers post break.
To finish out their pre-break season, the Ducks took on Middlebury College, where they saw a devastating final score of 77-84, breaking their seven win-streak of the season. This is only the second game of the season the Ducks have lost. Down at break by a mere three points, the team saw hope of pulling it back in the second half, but was forced into overtime. Coffey managed a season-high of 18 points and seven rebounds, Spellman had 15 points and Singh had 14, but it wasn’t quite enough to secure a final victory.
The next Men’s Basketball event will be the Stevens Men’s Basketball Holiday Tournament, where Stevens will be hosting Amherst College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Gettysburg College in Canavan Arena. This tournament will run Friday, December 29, to Saturday, December 30, and will be the last games of the season for the team that are not part of the Middle Atlantic Conference. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, and $2 for students and children, and available through the athletics website, stevensducks.com.
