ELMIRA, N.Y. (January 26, 2013) – The 20th-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team improved to 15-3 overall and 6-2 in the Empire 8 with a 64-48 win at Elmira College Saturday evening. The Ducks were led by 15 first-half points from freshman guard Evan Klimchak (Readington, N.J.) and a game-high 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting from senior guard Sheldon Jones (Queens, N.Y.).

The story of the first half was the Stevens defense and the hot shooting of Klimchak. After the Soaring Eagles jumped out to a 7-5 lead 4:13 into the game, the Ducks held Elmira to just five points over the final 15:47 of the half with an absolutely suffocating brand of defense. Stevens held the hosts to five total first-half field goals and 16.7 percent shooting. Elmira was 1-for-15 from three and only got to the line twice.

On the other end, it was the Stevens freshman sparking the Ducks with 15 points on the back of five three-pointers on just six attempts.

Leading 9-7 with 13:20 left in the first, a Klimchak three, a jumper from sophomore forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.) and another Klimchak triple pushed the Ducks lead to 10 (17-7). An Elmira bucket slowed Stevens momentarily, however the Ducks closed the half with two more Klimchak three-pointers to take a 32-12 advantage into the locker room.

Jones scored nine points for the Ducks with Sabatino grabbing seven rebounds. Stevens shot 40 percent (10-for-25) from the floor and 7-for-12 (58.3 percent) from long range. The Ducks ended the opening period with a 21-17 edge on the glass.

Early in the second half, Elmira trimmed the Stevens lead to 16 thanks to a triple from sophomore Neil Randolph (Wicklow, Ireland), but the Ducks came right back, going back up 20 with a layup from Jones with 15:43 remaining. The Soaring Eagles continued to chip away, getting within 12 when junior Matt Newell (Cranston, R.I.) connected from three; however, the Ducks again had the answer, this one a three from the left wing by Jones.

With Elmira threatening again, senior guard Russ Thompson (West Orange, N.J.) found Jones on the left block for a pair and after a stop, Jones fed Thompson for three and a 19-point lead with 6:07 on the clock.

The Ducks finished shooting 44 percent (22-for-50) from the field and 10-for-22 (45.5 percent) from three. They connected on 10 of their 14 free throws and ended with a 37-33 edge in rebounds. Jones finished with 21 points, four assists and a pair of rebounds, while Thompson had 10 points, three assists and two boards. Sabatino corralled a game-high 11 rebounds.

Elmira finished shooting 26.3 percent from the floor, 18.2 percent from three and 82.4 percent (14-for-17) at the line. Junior forward Chris Cassidy (Colts Neck, N.J.) led Elmira with 19 points and nine rebounds.

Stevens will return to action on Tuesday night when it hosts Hartwick College at 6 p.m. All the action can be seen live at www.Empire8.TV.

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