Five Score in Double Digits as Violets Dispatch of Ducks, 83-59

Jensen Leads Way With 16 Tallies; Polan Adds Double-Double

Keith Jensen led six double-digit scorers with 16 points.

Balanced scoring is considered one of New York University's strengths this season, and Sunday saw five different players reach double digits as the Violets dispatched of the Stevens Institute of Technology, 83-59, in the season opener for both teams Sunday afternoon at the Jerome S. Coles Sports Center in Manhattan.

Keith Jensen (5-for-9 FG, 4-for-8 3FG) netted a team-high 16 points, Omar Meziab added 14 tallies and Richie Polan produced his fourth career double-double (13 points, 10 boards) as NYU took an 18-point, first-half lead, saw it salted down to six points, and eventually proved resurgent in winning its 10th consecutive opening game.

Andy Stein (12 points, 6 rebounds) and Carl Yaffe (11 tallies in his first collegiate game) also reached double digits.

"Having a balanced attack is great," head coach Joe Nesci said. "I certainly feel we are capable of having a balanced attack."

Sheldon Jones led all scorers with 17 points for the Ducks. Simon Smith added a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds, while Russ Thompson dropped in 12 for Stevens Tech.

Six different players entered the scoring column during NYU's opening 30-12 outburst, which Jensen and Polan capped by scoring five points apiece during a 10-0 run. Eventually the Ducks whittled down the Violet advantage to 36-28 at intermission when Sheldon Jones buried two free throws 1.8 seconds before the halftime horn.

During the first 20 minutes, the Violets shot 44.8% (13-for-29) while getting nine points from Meziab, eight from Jensen, and seven points and seven caroms from Polan in 14 minutes off the bench. Smith had seven points and seven boards for Stevens Tech, which shot just 32.0% (8-for-25) from the field.

A bucket by George Greco got the Ducks within 36-30 to start the second half, but the Violets stretched their lead to a more comfortable 47-32 thanks to two buckets by Stein, a three-pointer apiece from Jensen and Meziab, and a Becker free throw. NYU increased its lead to as much as 24 and never saw its lead dwindle below 12 points.

"I thought we rushed a little bit early in the second half," Nesci said. "We got a couple of touches inside for Andy and that opened things up on the perimeter."

NYU will return to action Saturday, Nov. 21, when it hosts Skidmore College in the first round of the NYU Tip-Off Tournament. Tip-off time is 1 p.m.