Box Score
Hoboken, NJ –The College of New Jersey men's basketball team fell in overtime on Tuesday night as the host Ducks of Stevens Institute of Technology triumphed 75-74 with a three-point basket as time expired. Stevens improves to 7-2 on the year, while TCNJ is now 4-4.
The Lions would take 74-72 lead as sophomore forward Steven Siracusa (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) hit a jumper with 12 seconds remaining in the overtime session. The Lions would turn the ball over with five seconds left and Stevens' senior Anthony Passalacqua (Staten Island, NY/Susan E. Wagner) would convert the three-point basket for the winning shot.
The two teams were knotted at 64 after regulation and the Lions trailed 72-67 with 1:07 left in the extra session before tying the action for the tenth time at 72-72 with :27 left as junior guard
Jay Frank (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) hit a jumper and then made the free throw for a one-point Lion lead . With 12 seconds left, Siracusa hit one of two free throws and put the Lions up by two. Stevens' Michael Baker missed a layup with 0:05 left to play and senior
Jeff Molinelli (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) pulled down the rebound only to lose the ball and after a timeout, Passalacqua converted a three-point basket on a pass from Baker for the victory.
TCNJ had four players finish in double-digit scoring performances on the night as junior forward
Aaron Syvertsen (Midland Park, NJ/Midland Park) led the way with 19 points, while Frank added 15 points. Siracusa added 12 ponts and 10 rebounds for a double-double, while Molinelli picked up 10 points on the night.
Senior Virgil Gray (Elmwood Park, NJ/Bergen Catholic) led all players with his 23 points, while adding 11 rebounds for the Ducks. Freshman forward Simon Smith (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) added a double-double with his 12 points and 14 rebounds while Baker and Matt Higgins (Freehold, NJ/CBA) connected for 13 points each.
TCNJ returns to action on January 2-3 as they will travel to Franklin & Marshall College for their holiday tournament.
