Score: Stevens Institute of Technology 88, Elmira College 71
Records: Stevens (15-4, 9-2 E8), Elmira (3-16, 1-9 E8)
Location: Elmira, N.Y. - Speidel Gymnasium

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- A red-hot start and career outing from senior big man, Matt Davis '17, wasn't enough to ignite the Elmira College men's basketball team, which dropped an 88-71 home contest to Stevens Institute of Technology on Friday at Speidel Gymnasium.

The Soaring Eagles flew out of the gates and scored the first nine points of the game in the opening two minutes. Davis was responsible for the first seven points, as he established an early post presence with a pair of layups, followed by a rare 3-pointer. He would drain another trey 1:15 later to make it a 12-2 Elmira advantage and bring the EC faithful in attendance to their feet.

Not to be outdone, junior Hayden Harkins '18 connected from beyond the arc to give the Soaring Eagles their largest lead of the game, 17-6, with 16 minutes to play in the first half.

From there, the Ducks slowly began chipping away at the deficit. A 13-1 run by Stevens had the visitors ahead by one point, 19-18, but Connor Bays '18 regained the lead for the Soaring Eagles with a trey of his own midway through the half.

EC last led, 25-24, at the seven-minute mark, and the Ducks held a 35-33 advantage at the intermission. Stevens started the second half with a trio of three-point plays, bookended by a trey and three success free throws from Evan Klimchak. The nine unanswered points extended the lead to 11 points, 44-33, and the Ducks never looked back for the remainder of the contest.

Turning Point
In all, Stevens buried eight 3-pointers in the second half, nine if you include the trio of free throws converted by Klimchak, who was fouled on an attempted trey. Each time the Soaring Eagles looked to spark a rally in the second half, the Ducks downed a 3-pointer. For example, an and-one from Anthony Abate '19, followed by a free throw from Bays, brought the Purple and Gold within six points, 55-49. However, Dylan Walsh responded with a basket from beyond the arc to quickly extinguish any thoughts of a comeback.

Inside the Box Score

• EC shot the ball well and finished 25-for-56 (44.6 percent) from the floor.
• The Ducks shot 27-for-50 (54.0 percent) from the field.
• The Soaring Eagles were 4-for-17 (23.5 percent) from behind the arc.
• Stevens, on the other hand, did well from 3-point land, as the Ducks shot 9-for-19 (47.4 percent) from deep.
• EC finished the contest with six more assists than the Ducks, 17-11.
• Elmira was out-rebounded by Stevens, 31-26.
• Davis scored a team-high 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor and a perfect 2-of-2 from 3-point range.
• Henry Cuffee '19 finished 13 points and a team-high six boards.
• Porrett rounded out the Elmira double-digit scorers with 12 points to go along with a game-high eight assists.
• Klimchak finished with a game-high 27 points.
• Klimchak finished 9-of-12 from the floor, 3-of-5 from 3-point range, and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.

News and Notes

• Elmira's record drops to 3-16 overall and 1-9 in conference.
• Davis' 18 points are a new career-high mark for the 6-foot-7-inch forward.
• All three of Davis' double-digit scoring efforts have come in his senior campaign.
• Davis made multiple 3-pointers in a game for the first time in his career and is now 4-for-5 from 3-point land this season.
• Porrett's eight assists are tied for the second-most that he has recorded in a game this year.
• Porrett has scored double-digit points on 10 occasions this season.
• Cuffee has scored double-digit points three consecutive games and in four of EC's last five contests.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will continue the 35th Annual Athletics Alumni Weekend, when they welcome Houghton College to Speidel Gymnasium for a 4:00 p.m. tilt on Saturday, February 4th. Saturday's bout will also stand as Class of 2017 Recognition Day.