Box Score

HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 1, 2014) – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team improved to 14-5 overall and 8-2 in the conference with a 73-69 win over Nazareth College Saturday evening in an Empire 8 game at the Canavan Arena.
 
With the Ducks holding a 62-54 lead with 8:58 left, the Golden Flyers were able to get within two points behind a 6-0 spurt, and eventually took a 65-64 lead at the 2:25 mark when senior guard Scott Hayford (Wilmington, Vt.) connected on a big three-pointer. Two free throws from senior guard Jack Giles (Fayetteville, N.Y.) gave the guests a three-point lead with just 1:03 remaining.
 
On the next Ducks' possession, senior guard Phillip DeSeignora (Boston, Mass.) came around a screen set by senior guard Andrew Meszaros (Phoenixville, Pa.) and drilled a three from wing to tie the game at 67-all with 43 seconds to play. On the ensuing possession, Nazareth pushed the ball up the floor but DeSeignora was able to come up with a steal, and Meszaros hit a pair at the line to give Stevens the 69-67 lead.
 
A missed jumper and rebound from senior guard Matt Skrelja (Clark, N.J.) forced Naz to foul, and Skrelja hit two at the line to put the Ducks up four with 15 seconds left. Nazareth scored on its next possession, but two made free throws from sophomore guard Evan Klimchak (Readington, N.J.) sealed the gritty win for the Ducks who remained in a first-place tie with Hartwick College in the Empire 8 standings at 8-2.
 
Stevens started the game cold, and the Golden Flyers took an early 6-0 edge, but the Ducks came right back with six-straight points of their own to tie the score at six 4:23 into the action.
 
Each team shot extremely well in the first half with Nazareth connecting on 59.3 percent of its shots including 9-for-15 from long range. The Ducks shot 48.6 percent from the field and had 10 first-half assists and just two turnovers. Skrelja picked up four steals, five assists, four boards and six points in a strong first half for Stevens.
 
Up by seven (33-26) with 3:36 in the opening period, the Ducks allowed three-straight three-pointers and a 9-0 Nazareth run to help the Golden Flyers to a 38-36 lead with 1:23 left in the opening period. The Ducks came right back, getting triples from DeSeignora and Klimchak sandwiched around another Naz three-pointer to take a 42-41 lead into the locker room.
 
DeSeignora paced the Ducks with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 4-for-8 on three-pointers. The senior also grabbed five rebounds. Klimchak tallied 16 points and four assists, with Skrelja putting together another great all-around performance with 12 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and six steals. Junior forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.) scored 11 points and Meszaros scored eight and snared five rebounds.
 
The Ducks shot 44.8 percent from the field, 7-for-24 from three and 82.4 percent (14-for-17) at the line. The Ducks finished with 16 assists, 10 steals and just 10 turnovers.
 
Nazareth (13-6, 6-3 Empire 8) held a 39-28 edge on the glass and shot 49.1 percent from the field, 47.8 percent from deep (11-for-23), and just 4-for-11 from the line. The Golden Flyers turned it over 19 times and dished out 15 assists.
 
Giles and senior forward Brad Ford (Victor, N.Y.) each scored 16 points for the vistors.
 
Stevens will return to action Tuesday night at 6 p.m. when the Ducks host Williams College in the Canavan Arena. All the action will be webcast live at www.Empire8.TV.