Key Takeaways
- The Stevens Institute of Technology men’s basketball team lost to Arcadia University 66-65 in a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom game.
- Harmehar Chhabra set a new career high with 24 points, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, and added a team-high seven rebounds.
- The Ducks shot 61.5% in the second half, including 6-of-12 from deep, but were unable to overcome a 13-point first-half deficit.
- Stevens continues their homestand on Wednesday, hosting King’s College at 5:30 p.m. inside Canavan Arena.
- The team’s next game is scheduled for January 14th against King’s College (Pa.) at 5:30 PM.
Introduction to the Game
The Stevens Institute of Technology men’s basketball team had a thrilling matchup against Arcadia University, but ultimately fell short, losing 66-65 in a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom game. The team’s efforts were led by Harmehar Chhabra, who posted a career-high 24 points and added a team-high seven rebounds. Despite a strong second-half performance, the Ducks were unable to overcome a 13-point first-half deficit.
The Game’s Progression
The game began with Arcadia taking an early lead, with Stevens falling behind 11-4. However, the Ducks were able to trim the margin to 11-7 with a free throw from Chhabra and a layup by Brendan Coughlan. Arcadia responded with a 6-0 run, pushing the lead into double figures, but Matt Leming answered with a three-pointer to cut the deficit to eight at 18-10. The margin grew to 13 with 4:39 remaining in the half before Chhabra’s three-pointer with 22 seconds left sent the Ducks into the break trailing 31-22.
Second-Half Comeback
In the second half, Arcadia’s lead hovered around four before five straight points stretched the advantage to nine at 45-36. However, Stevens responded with a 5-0 run, capped by Chhabra’s layup off an Anthony Loscalzo feed. Loscalzo then made it a one-possession game, knocking down a three-pointer while drawing contact and converting the free throw to make it 50-46 with 9:28 remaining. The two sides traded baskets over the next four minutes, with Loscalzo’s third triple of the frame trimming the deficit to two.
Final Minutes
After Arcadia converted twice from the free-throw line, Kyle Maddison responded with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession to pull Stevens within one. Chhabra then gave the Ducks their first lead of the afternoon, converting an and-one layup to put Stevens ahead, 62-61. However, Arcadia quickly answered on a Jamison Lynam jumper, and Chhabra tied the game at 63 with a free throw. In the final minute, Lynam finished a tough layup with 58 seconds remaining to give Arcadia a 66-63 edge. Chhabra answered with a layup on the next possession, and Stevens forced an Arcadia turnover to set up a final chance.
The Final Play
After Chhabra secured the rebound off an Arcadia miss, Stevens worked the clock down to single digits. Leming’s straight-on three was off the mark, but Tommy Scholl grabbed the offensive rebound and called timeout with 0.3 seconds remaining. The Ducks nearly beat the buzzer on the ensuing inbounds play, but Chhabra’s attempt was ruled late, sealing the one-point Arcadia victory.
Game Statistics
Chhabra’s performance was a highlight of the game, as he set a new career high with 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including a perfect 2-for-2 effort from beyond the arc. Scholl and Loscalzo each scored 12 points, with Loscalzo hitting 3-of-5 from three-point range. The team shot 61.5% in the second half, including 6-of-12 from deep, and Maddison paced the Ducks with five assists and two steals.
Upcoming Game
The Ducks continue their homestand on Wednesday, hosting King’s College at 5:30 p.m. inside Canavan Arena. The team will look to bounce back from the tough loss and secure a win in their next game. With Chhabra’s career-high performance and the team’s strong second-half showing, Stevens will aim to carry this momentum into their upcoming matchup.