HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 16, 2016) - The Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team nearly erased a double-digit deficit Saturday, but ultimately fell 81-77 to Alfred University in Empire 8 Conference action.

Down 14 with just over five minutes remaining in regulation, the Ducks unleashed a 14-1 run capped by a three from Cosgrove to pull within one with 1:24 to go. It's as close as Stevens would get however as Alfred answered with a jumper, before capitalizing on a Ducks miss on the other end with a made free throw to ice the game.

The loss evened Stevens record at 7-7 (3-3), while Alfred moved to 7-8 (3-3).

Junior Evan Klimchak led the Ducks with 22 points in addition to four rebounds and two assists, while senior Alex Lorenz scored 14 with six boards. Junior Patrick Barron chipped-in with 13 points, and sophomore Chris Cosgrove scored eight.

As a team, the Ducks shot 46.5 percent from the field and outscored Alfred off the bench, 36-14.

Senior Kevin Zychowski's three six minutes into regulation put the Ducks up four after a back-and-forth start, before a Klimchak layup six minutes later tied the game at 22 to answer Alfred's lead-taking run. Alfred came back with a 6-2 run to go up four, however Stevens answered again over the next several minutes.

Keyed by six from Barron, the Ducks regained the lead at 30-28 with just under five to go. A 6-0 Stevens run two minutes later put it up six, however an Alfred three in the final minute closed the Ducks lead to three heading into the break.

Stevens held onto the lead over the first three minutes of the second until an Alfred three put the Saxons up with 17 minutes to go. The Saxons never relinquished the advantage from there as the Ducks came within one of a tie before falling in the final minute.

The Ducks will continue their homestand next weekend starting with a Friday game against Nazareth College at 6 p.m.

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