BOXSCORE | CUMULATIVE STATS

HOBOKEN, N.J. -- Host Stevens Institute of Technology took a big step forward in the Empire 8 Conference standings for men's basketball Friday as the Ducks held off Nazareth for a 76-73 victory.

Stevens, ranked 17th in the latest Division III rankings according to d3hoops.com, improved to 16-3 overall and 10-2 in the Empire 8. Nazareth lost to Stevens for the second time this season and dropped to 6-3 in the Empire 8 and 13-5 overall.

Stevens and St. John Fisher are tied for first place in the conference standings with two losses each. Ithaca and Nazareth are next with three losses each.

Friday's game was tied 36-36 at halftime, but Nazareth was ahead for a good portion of the second half. In fact, the Golden Flyers were up by as many as seven, 55-48, following a three-pointer by Ryan McAdam with 12 minutes left.

The Ducks rallied behind the scoring of senior Virgil Gray, who finished with a game-high 25 points. It was two free throws by Gray with :11 to play that put the Ducks ahead to stay, 75-73. Nazareth's Ryan McAdam then misfired on a three-point attempt on Nazareth's next possession and Stevens' Waleed Farid hit another free throw with :02 left to provide the three-point margin of victory.

Ryan McAdam was Nazareth's leader in points (22) and rebounds (15). He made 10 of 15 shots from the field, including two three-pointers. Joe Canori contributed 16 points and Tyler Smith scored 12. Corey McAdam was held to six points, but passed for 11 assists.

Anthony Passalacqua backed up Gray's 25 points with 17 points while Tim Williams led the Ducks with 11 rebounds.