Box Score

ALFRED, N.Y. (February 7, 2014) – Despite five players scoring in double figures, the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team dropped an Empire 8 game at Alfred University Friday night by a score of 100-88.
 
The Saxons move to 6-3 in the conference and 15-5 overall. Stevens is now 14-7 overall and 8-3 in the Empire 8.
 
Alfred jumped out to an early 10-2 lead when freshman guard Dylan Molloy (Clifton Park, N.Y.) hit a three-pointer 3:30 into the game.
               
The Ducks trimmed the lead to three points thanks to a three-point play from sophomore guard Evan Klimchak (Readington, N.J.), but Alfred responded to open an 11-point lead following another triple with 12:05 left in the first.
 
Freshman forward Michael Signer (Rockaway, N.J.) and senior guard Phillip DeSeignora (Boston, Mass.) hit three's late in the first half as the Ducks trimmed the margin to four and ultimately went into the break trailing 54-47.
 
In the second half, Stevens was able to get within three twice in the early going, but Alfred quickly answered in both spots to keep a solid cushion for the opening 10 minutes of the period.
 
With the Ducks looking at a 74-68 deficit with 9:12 left, they ripped off 6-0 run – highlighted by a three-point play from junior forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.) – to tie the game at the seven-minute mark.
 
Alfred answered with a three on the next possession, and eventually built the lead back to six points with 5:32 remaining.
 
The advantage moved back to double-digits at 1:55, with Stevens getting as close as six points with 45 seconds left following a DeSeignora three, but it was too little too late as the Saxons did enough at the line to seal the win.
 
The Ducks shot 43.8 percent from the field and were just 4-for-23 from three-point land. Stevens was 28-for-43 on the line, which are season-highs for makes and attempts, but was out-rebounded, 62-39. The Ducks also had 16 assists, 17 turnovers, 11 steals and six blocked shots.
 
Sabatino led Stevens with 22 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Klimchak had 14 points, five assists and two steals, while senior guard Matt Skrelja (Clark, N.J.) tallied 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Senior guard Andrew Meszaros (Phoenixville, Pa.) notched 10 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists, and DeSeignora poured in 13 points and dished out a pair of assists. 
 
Freshman guard Tyler Seelman (Lorton, Va.) scored 22 points to lead Alfred, which shot 32-for-80 from the field (40 percent), 11-for-35 from three (31.4 percent) and 25-for-42 at the line (59.5 percent). The Saxons recorded 16 more field-goal attempts than the Ducks and had 24 assists.
 
Stevens will return to action Saturday at Elmira College in a key Empire 8 game. Tip-time is set for 2 p.m.