Falcons knock down Cardinals

CLAREMONT – Stevens boys’ hoop dropped a home game to Bow on Friday night, 77-32, as their struggles since moving up to Division 2 continue.

With both teams entering the game without a win on the season, things were up-tempo to start out as the Cardinals and Falcons were hungry to get in the win column.

It was looking bright for the Cardinals early in the game and they even had the lead after one quarter of play, 14-12. Stevens senior guard Derrick Stanhope was feeling it on the offensive end, pouring in eight first-quarter points to get the home team rolling. On defense, the Cardinals’ zone was forcing Bow into tough shots.

But in the second, everything swung in favor of the visiting Falcons, as Bow outscored the Cardinals by 20 in the frame. They put on a half-court pressure that seemed to stun Stevens, and on the offensive end, their size was key, turning missed shots into second-chance points as they began to pull away.

By halftime, the Falcons were up 39-22, and they continued to pour on in the second half.

Bow exploded for 31 points in the third quarter, hitting six three-pointers over the course of the period, including three from senior guard Will Cohen. Plus, their half-court press was turning steals into easy buckets at the other end, as the Falcons’ outstretched arms were in passing lanes throughout the final three quarters.

The end of the third finished with a deep three off the glass from Cohen just before the buzzer sounded, and Stevens was in a 40-point hole, 68-28 heading into the fourth after controlling the lead to start the second.

Bow outscored Stevens 65-18 over the final three quarters of play.

With the loss, Stevens moves to 0-7 so far this winter and they will look to grab a win when they travel to D-III Newport on Tuesday.

For Stevens on Friday night, sophomore Owen Taylor had 12 points, Stanhope had 8, and senior Ethan Johnson added 4.

Bow had four players score in double figures. Junior Nick Kiah dropped in 18 points, junior Benn Harris had 15, Cohen scored 14, and sophomore Shaun Lover added 13.

Bow improves to 1-5 on the season.