Box Score

Richie Polan hit all four of his free throws in the final 48.4 seconds, helping New York University remain unbeaten by holding off the Stevens Institute of Technology, 72-65, in non-conference basketball action Saturday at Cananvan Arena in Hoboken, NJ.

After the Violets (6-0) took a 28-20 halftime lead, the two teams kept trading leads before Zachary Kuba and John Mish combined to lead a 9-0, 59-second run that turned a 52-51 deficit into a 60-52 cushion with 5:11 remaining. 

Kuba canned the go-ahead three pointer from straight away to give the Violets the lead for good, 54-52, with 6:10 remaining.  Mish hit a pair of free throws at 5:48, then Kuba stepped to the charity stripe and hit two more after an intentional foul with 5:35 to go.  A scoop shot by Mish at 5:11 made it 60-52 NYU.

Stevens (6-2) rallied, however, and was in position to tie the game after a bucket by Michael Baker, who was fouled on the play but missed the ensuing free throw.

Mish (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Polan (15 points, 13 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles for the Violets, while Keith Jensen (13 points) and Omar Meziab (11) gave the victors four double-digit scorers.

"We did a nice job taking advantage of our ability to score inside," NYU head coach Joe Nesci said.  "We also did a good job with our defensive rebounding, our free-throw shooting and executing down the stretch."

NYU shot 51.2% (21-for-41) from the field and 75.8% (25-for-33) at the foul line, while holding Stevens to 39.7% (23-for-58) shooting.  The Ducks went just 12-for-24 at the charity stripe.

Anthony Passalacqua led all scorers with 19 points for Stevens, while Virgil Gray tallied 14 in the loss.

NYU is off until Tuesday, Dec. 29, when it hosts Rivier College at 6 p.m. in the first round of the NYU Holiday Tournament.