HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 25, 2016) – After a one-season hiatus, the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team  (12-13, 8-8) will make its return to the Empire 8 Conference Championship, starting with Friday's semifinal against St. John Fisher College. 

GAME INFO
Tip is set for 6 p.m. at Manning & Napier Varsity gym on Fisher's campus.

THE FIELD
Fisher earned the top seed after posting a 14-2 conference record, while Nazareth College and Hartwick College represent seeds two and three respectively. 

HOW THEY GOT HERE
Despite dropping the final two games of the regular season, Stevens earned its spot in the championship by virtue of a one-game advantage over fifth-place Ithaca College. 

LAST TIME OUT
Despite erasing a four-point deficit in the final 90 seconds, the Ducks fell on a last-second layup by Fisher's Tyler English in a 68-66 loss last Saturday.

PART THREE
Stevens and Fisher split their two matchups this season with late-January's 102-95 victory for Stevens in Hoboken. Stevens has won two of its last three against Fisher.

DUCKS VS. THE FIELD
Stevens is 2-4 combined against the three teams in the championship with wins against Fisher and Hartwick. 

SEEKING HISTORY
The No. 4 seed has advanced to the final game four times in the championship's history, winning it once in 2012. Stevens has never won the title.

THE CATALYST
Junior Evan Klimchak led the Ducks in scoring this season at 17.6 points per game, while also posing assist and rebounding averages of 3.9 and 3.6. Klimchak's season was recognized today with his Second Team All-Conference nod.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Senior Alex Lorenz posted 14.2 and 8.5 rebounds per game as the Ducks primary weapon inside. Lorenz leads the E8 in shooting at 65 percent from the field.

BEYOND THE ARC
Junior Patrick Barron and senior Kevin Zychowski combined for nearly 130 threes this season.

CAN'T MAKE IT?
Live stats and video will be available for the entirety of the championship through links on stevensducks.com.

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