MADISON, N.J. – The FDU-Florham men's basketball team was defeated 72-58 in their home opener Tuesday night by the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks at the Ferguson Recreation Center.

Stevens (3-2) jumped out to an early lead thanks to Omar Otis who scored seven of the Ducks first 12 points and finished with nine for the half. The Ducks were able to score with ease in the first half, shooting 51% as a team, including 3-of-6 from behind the 3-point line. They turned their hot shooting into a 13-0 run giving them up 23-8 lead with under ten minutes to go in the half.

The Devils had themselves a dismal first half where they shot just 25 percent from the field but managed to cut the Ducks lead to just nine before halftime. Sophomore Michael Barber (Middletown, N.J.) was the only Devils player to find his rhythm in the first half, burying two 3-point shots and totaling eight points.

In the second half the Devils kept chipping away at the Ducks lead and cut the deficit to seven with nine minutes to go in the game. Senior Kevin Furlong (Hazlet, N.J.) led the charge for the Devils in the second half and displayed his all around playing ability, scoring 15 points while reeling in five boards and dishing out five assists. Furlong concluded the night with 17 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Furlong and Barber each buried three 3-point shots in the second half, which kept the Devils in the game. Barber ended the game with 17 points including five made 3-point shots.

Even with Furlong's and Barber's shooting, the deficit proved to be insurmountable and the Devils could not stop the Ducks offense. Patrick Sabatino and Otis combined for 28 points on 13-of-16 from the floor.

The Devils struggled to ever get much going on the offensive end as a team and shot 29 percent from the field, while the Ducks shot an efficient 57 percent.

Donte Ali (Willingboro, N.J.) was able to provide a surge on the boards for the Devils as he reeled in 10 rebounds, but he was unable to find his shooting touch. The Devils were able to force 21 turnovers, but were out rebounded in the contest 41-32.  

Next up for the Devils:

FDU-Florham will head on the road and faceoff against Baruch College on Saturday, November 29 at 4 p.m.