HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 2, 2015) – Alfred University defeated Stevens Institute of Technology by a score of 65-58 in an Empire 8 men's basketball game Friday night at the Canavan Arena.
 
With the win, Alfred improves to 7-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference. Stevens drops to 0-1 in the E8 and is now 3-6 overall.
 
The game was back-and-forth throughout, and after nearly 35 minutes of action the two sides were tied at 51 with 5:11 on the clock. The Saxons scored five-straight points to open a 56-51 edge with the final three coming on a big three-point-play from senior forward Dalton Walsh (Stockton, N.Y.).
 
Freshman guard Jayson Winick (Naperville, Ill.) brought the Ducks within three points on a pretty inbounds play and assist from sophomore guard Michael Langford (Staten Island, N.Y.). A stop and layup from senior forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.) pulled the Ducks within one at the 3:14 mark, but another short jumper from Walsh gave the guests a bit of breathing room.
 
Stevens converted 1-of-2 at the line on its next trip before a fadeaway jumper from sophomore guard Tyler Seelman (Lorton, Va.) made it a two possession game with 1:33 remaining (60-56). Several stops and a layup from sophomore forward Otis Osman (Far Hills, N.J.) pulled the hosts back within two, and after Alfred made 1-of-2 at the stripe, the Ducks had a quality opportunity to tie with 13 seconds left but could not convert, eventually falling by five points.
 
Alfred never led by more than four points until the final seconds, and held a 27-25 margin after the opening period. There were seven ties and nine lead changes with the Ducks holding the game's largest lead (10) with 12:21 to play in the first half.
 
Stevens shot 40.4 percent from the field (21-for-52), but went just 4-for-22 from long range. The Ducks hit 12-of-20 (60 percent) at the line and finished the game minus-three on the glass (41-38). Stevens assisted on 14 of its 21 baskets and picked up seven steals as a team.
 
Osman led Stevens with 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting and 11 rebounds. He also added a team-high four assists. Sabatino had 14 points and nine boards, while sophomore guard Patrick Barron (Long Valley, N.J.) had 12 points and two helpers. Senior forward Kenny Gan (Hillsborough, N.J.) had five points and 10 rebounds with Winick notching five points and two assists off the bench.
 
Alfred shot 34.4 percent from the field (22-for-64) and grabbed 16 offensive rebounds which resulted in 20 second-chance points. The Saxons hit seven three-pointers on 22 attempts and went 14-for-21 at the line.
 
Sophomore forward Eric Adams (Lebanon, N.J.) and Walsh each finished with double-doubles to lead Alfred.
 
The Ducks will look to snap a four-game skid and earn their first conference victory of the season when they host Houghton College in the Canavan Arena Saturday at 5 p.m.