HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 17, 2015) – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team earned a bounce-back win over Elmira College Saturday at the Canavan Arena, taking the Empire 8 Conference matchup with the Soaring Eagles by a final score of 62-51.
 
Stevens improves to 4-3 in the Empire 8 and 7-8 overall, while Elmira drops to 4-3 in the Empire 8 and 6-8 overall in defeat. The Ducks never trailed in the game.
 
Stevens started the game strong, opening up a 7-0 lead thanks to a three-pointer from sophomore guard Patrick Barron, and layups from senior forwards Patrick Sabatino and Kenny Gan. Stevens continued to expand its lead and turned a five-point margin at 13-8 to 14 with a 9-0 run to go up 22-8 with 10:22 left in the first. In that 9-0 spurt, Sabatino tallied seven points.
 
Elmira finally was able to score with 8:40 left in the half, but the Ducks came right back with seven-straight to open an 18-point lead with 7:16 to play in the first – a lead that was never really threatened the rest of the way.
 
The Soaring Eagles were able to fight within 12 over the final five minutes of the first half, but the Ducks were able to get timely buckets to keep a nice working margin, eventually settling on a 39-25 halftime lead.
 
Elmira chipped away in the second and was within eight points (44-36) with 13:17 left, but the Ducks continued to make the plays they needed. Stevens answered with a Sabatino layup on the back of an assist from sophomore guard Thomas Ahern and a pair at the line from Sabatino pushed the lead back to 12.
 
Stevens allowed Elmira to get back within eight at 9:59, but again Sabatino came up clutch, converting a feed from Gan into two more points and a 10-point lead.
 
Things became interesting when Elmira fought within six points (52-46) with 2:57 on the clock, but a Sabatino jumper and 1-of-2 at the line from Gan extended the lead back to nine. Elmira was able to get within seven on its next possession but a Gan layup and two free throws from freshman guard Chris Cosgrove with 1:39 on the clock sealed the Empire 8 Conference win for the Ducks.
 
The Ducks' defense held Elmira to 32.1 percent shooting (18-for-56) as the Soaring Eagles connected on just 7-of-29 from long range.
 
Stevens shot 42.0 percent for the game (21-for-50) and 3-for-15 from deep. The Ducks were solid at the line, connecting on 17 of their 22 attempts, also holding a 43-32 margin on the glass. Stevens had 16 assists and 15 turnovers, tallying five steals and four blocks as a team. The Ducks notched 34 points in the paint.
 
Sabatino tallied 22 points on 12 shots, seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Gan had 12 rebounds and six points, with junior forward Alex Lorenz adding nine points and five rebounds. Sophomore forward Otis Osman had eight points and six rebounds, and Cosgrove added a career-high six assists to go with two points and a blocked shot.
 
Stevens returns to the hardwood on January 23 at Hartwick College in a key Empire 8 showdown in Oneonta.