HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 14, 2014) – Hartwick College defeated Stevens Institute of Technology by a score of 74-68 Tuesday night at the Canavan Arena in an Empire 8 men's basketball game.

With the loss, Stevens falls to 3-2 in the conference and 8-5 overall. Hartwick improves to 8-6 overall and 4-1 in the Empire 8.

Stevens scored six of the game's first seven points highlighted by a three-point play from sophomore guard Evan Klimchak (Readington, N.J.). Hartwick came back to take a 10-9 margin following a three-pointer from senior forward Jared Suderley (Newport, N.Y.), and the team's went back-and-forth until a three-pointer from senior guard Andrew Meszaros (Phoenixville, Pa.) gave the Ducks a 21-17 lead with 6:25 in the opening period. Klimchak followed with a three of his own to put the Ducks on top by seven (24-17), but Hartwick closed the half strong.

The Hawks closed the period on a 15-2 run on the back of three three-point field goals to take a 32-26 lead into the intermission.

Stevens ripped off a 10-2 run thanks to a pair of nifty assists and two buckets from senior guard Matt Skrelja (Clark, N.J.) to start the second half. Hartwick tied the game at 38 with 15:26 left, but another run from the Ducks, this one 7-1, made it a 45-39 game with 13:58 on the clock.

The Hawks began their game-changing run with a three-pointer from freshman forward Justin Pratt (North Kingstown, R.I.), eventually building a 60-49 margin with 6:11 left. The run finished at  21-4, came over a span of 7:24 and featured three three-pointers.

Stevens showed resiliency down the stretch, getting within seven (64-57) after a Meszaros three-pointer at the 3:24 mark, and six with a three-pointer from sophomore guard Kevin Zychowski (Mendham, N.J.) with 52 seconds left.

The Ducks would foul to extend the game, trimming the lead to five at 70-65 with 35 ticks on the clock following a triple from senior guard Phillip DeSeignora (Boston, Mass.), and then three points when Skrelja connected from long range with 26 seconds remaining, but Hartwick did enough at the line to earn the road win.

Skrelja scored a team-high 17 points to go along with nine rebounds, seven assists and five steals, while junior forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.) tallied a double-double with 15 points, 11 boards, five helpers and three blocks.

Stevens shots 36.6 percent from the floor, 28.6 percent from three and went 8-for-10 at the line. The Ducks had 17 assists on 26 made baskets and only committed nine turnovers.

Hartwick was led by 24 points from Suderley who also had 16 rebounds and two blocks. Pratt had 19 points and was 5-for-9 from three. The Hawks shot 39.0 percent from the floor, 33 percent from deep, and went 19-for-26 at the line.

Stevens will return to action when it hosts Houghton on Friday, January 17 in the Canavan Arena. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.