Box Score

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (January 10, 2014) –Stevens Institute of Technology earned a thrilling 96-88 overtime win at Nazareth College Friday night in an Empire 8 men's basketball game in Rochester, N.Y.
 
After Naz (7-5, 1-2 Empire 8) missed both its free throws with four seconds remaining in regulation, senior guard Andrew Meszaros (Phoenixville, Pa.) took it the length of the floor and pulled up at the top of the key to bury a game-tying jumper as time expired to send the game into overtime tied at 78-all.
 
That play highlighted a marvelous performance for the senior as he finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and two assists to lead the Ducks in the win. The veteran shot 7-for-13 from the field and hit three three-pointers. Sophomore guard Evan Klimchak (Readington, N.J.) was also enormous for Stevens (8-3, 3-0 Empire 8), pouring in 25 points (9-for-15), four rebounds and three assists.
 
After trailing for most of the second half, Stevens tied the game at 66 with 2:27 to play with a layup from senior guard Phillip DeSeignora (Boston, Mass.). Senior guard Jack Giles (Pittsford, N.Y.) answered with a three for Naz, and after a bucket from senior guard Matt Skreljja (Clark, N.J.) brought the Ducks within one, the Golden Flyers converted another triple to take a 72-68 advantage with 1:16 remaining.
 
An empty possession for Stevens and a pair at the line from sophomore forward Mitch Ford (Victor, N.Y.) gave Nazareth a six-point edge, but the Ducks did not quit despite only 50 seconds showing on the clock.
 
A Klimchak three made it a one-possession game, but three-straight free throws from the hosts again made it a six-point deficit for the Ducks, this time with just 22 ticks left.
 
DeSeignora drilled a huge triple with 17 seconds to make it 77-74, and senior forward Brad Ford (Victor, N.Y.) converted 1-of-2 at the stripe for the Golden Flyers, but a Klimchak layup with five seconds to go set the stage for the two missed free throws and coast-to-coast game-tying jumper from Meszaros as time expired.
 
Trailing 84-83 with 3:11 left in the overtime period, Stevens ran off seven consecutive to open an 89-83 edge with 1:23 left. Meszaros started the run with another made jump shot, Klimchak came through with a pretty three-point play and Skrelja hit a layup.
 
Nazareth was able to get within four on its next possession but Stevens came back with a make by junior forward Kenny Gan (Hillsborough, N.J.), and Stevens did enough at the line down the stretch to close out the Empire 8 victory.
 
The two teams played the first half to a tie (30-30), and the Golden Flyers came out quickly in the second, going on an 8-2 run to take a 38-32 lead, but a 9-0 answer for Stevens gave it a 41-38 lead with 16:07 on the clock following a three-pointer from Klimchak.
 
The Ducks fell behind at 14:06 of the second, trailing by as many as eight, and did not regain the lead until the overtime period.
 
Gan joined Meszaros and Klimchak in double figures with 16 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Skrelja had nine points, seven boards, six assists and three steals, with sophomore forward Alex Lorenz (Point Pleasant Borough, N.J.) and DeSeignora combining for 17 points off the bench.
 
Stevens – winners of six in a row – shot 49.3 percent (33-for-67) for the game, hit 7-of-17 three-pointers, and sunk 23-of-36 at the line. The Ducks had 15 assists and 14 turnovers as well as nine steals.
 
Naz shot 45.3 percent from the floor and went 9-for-22 from deep. The Golden Flyers were 21-for-35 from the line and had 14 assists (14 turnovers).
 
Stevens will return to action at St. John Fisher College Saturday at 2 p.m. in an Empire 8 showdown.