Ducks Fall Just Short in Thrilling One-Point Loss to Arcadia
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The Stevens Institute of Technology men’s basketball team suffered a heartbreaking 66-65 defeat at the hands of Arcadia University on Saturday, despite a furious second-half comeback and a career performance from Harmehar Chhabra. The Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom matchup saw the Ducks nearly overcome a 13-point first-half deficit, ultimately falling short in a game decided in the final seconds.
First-Half Struggles Plague Stevens
The Ducks struggled to find their rhythm early, falling behind 11-4. While a free throw from Chhabra and a layup by Brendan Coughlan narrowed the gap to 11-7, a subsequent 6-0 run by Arcadia extended their lead. A three-pointer from Matt Leming offered a temporary reprieve, but the Knights continued to build momentum, leading by as many as 13 points with 4:39 remaining in the half. A late three-pointer from Chhabra helped to close the gap, sending Stevens into halftime trailing 31-22.
Arcadia’s strong shooting performance in the first half – connecting on 46.4% of their attempts (13-of-28) – contrasted sharply with Stevens’ 33.3% clip (7-of-21).
Ducks Mount a Second-Half Charge
Stevens emerged from the break with renewed energy, but Arcadia quickly stretched their advantage to nine points at 45-36. A pivotal three-pointer from Anthony Loscalzo ignited a 5-0 run for the Ducks, and Loscalzo continued to be a key contributor, converting a three-point play to bring the score to 50-46 with 9:28 left to play.
The teams traded baskets, with Loscalzo’s third three-pointer of the frame narrowing the deficit to two. Kyle Maddison then responded to Arcadia free throws with a three-pointer of his own, pulling Stevens within one. Chhabra then put the Ducks ahead for the first time, completing an and-one layup to give Stevens a 62-61 lead.
Dramatic Finish Falls Short for Stevens
Arcadia quickly regained the lead on a jumper by Jamison Lynam, but Chhabra tied the game at 63 with a free throw. After Arcadia went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line, Stevens failed to capitalize on the ensuing possession. Lynam then secured a tough layup with 58 seconds remaining, giving Arcadia a 66-63 edge. Chhabra responded with a layup, and Stevens forced a crucial turnover, setting up a final opportunity.
After Chhabra secured a rebound off a missed Arcadia shot, Stevens meticulously worked the clock down to 0.3 seconds. Leming’s three-point attempt fell short, but Tommy Scholl grabbed the offensive rebound and called timeout. The Ducks nearly beat the buzzer on the inbounds play, but Chhabra’s attempt was ruled late, sealing Arcadia’s 66-65 victory.
Chhabra Leads the Way, Team Shooting Improves
Harmehar Chhabra delivered a standout performance, setting a new career high with 24 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting, including a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. He also led the team with seven rebounds. Scholl and Loscalzo each contributed 12 points, with Loscalzo proving particularly effective from three-point range, hitting 3-of-5 attempts.
Stevens significantly improved their shooting in the second half, connecting on 61.5% of their shots, including 6-of-12 from deep. Kyle Maddison also impressed, pacing the Ducks with five assists and two steals.
Up Next for the Ducks
The Stevens Ducks will continue their homestand on Wednesday, hosting King’s College (Pa.) at 5:30 p.m. inside Canavan Arena.
