HOBOKEN, N.J. – Eastern University Men's Basketball saw its quest for a MAC Freedom Title end with a 77-59 loss at top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology. The Eagles closed a 15 point gap to six points with eight minutes to play in the game, but the Ducks got eight points in a 90 second spurt from MAC Freedom Player of the Year and Tournament MVP Spencer Cook to reassert control of the game. William Blet led the Eagles with 14 points. Victor Peña and Draig Ruff each scored 13.

How It Happened:
With bus trouble on the way out the door, the Eagles got a late start. Tip-off was pushed back to 3:45.

The Ducks (23-4) did not get a late start. Led by Cook, they hit seven 3-pointers in the first 12 minutes and led 32-21 with eight minutes left in the half. The Stevens lead grew to 15 at one point and was 41-27 at halftime.

Peña led the Eagles with nine points and six rebound at the intermission.

The Eagles had only five second-half turnovers and shot 50 percent from the floor, but the Ducks made their free throws and connected on five more 3-pointers in the second half to hold off the Eastern charge. Cook had 19 of his game-high 32 after halftime.

The Eagles made just 13-of-24 from the line in the game. The Ducks only two losses in Canavan Arena this year came to No. 4 Middlebury in December and No. 1 Swarthmore in early January.

Coach Pruessner Says:
"We had a great run. This group of seniors has had a tremendous influence on the program and we took a big step this week. We will miss these guys. Stevens hit shots early and they were able to answer when we got back into it late. They are a very good team, and they are good at home."

Up Next:
While the year is likely over, the Eagles are ranked third in the Atlantic Region. With Stevens having won a league title and Yeshiva likely to win  the Skyline tomorrow, the Eagles would be the first team from the Atlantic Region to get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. At-large bids are not assigned by region, and it is entirely possible that a region will not get an at-large bid, but teams get into the NCAA Tournament in the order they are ranked regionally. In example the fifth-ranked team in a region will not get an at large bid into the tournament until the fourth ranked team is placed in the field. The selection show is Monday.

The 17 wins by the Eastern Team this year matches a Division III high set in 2009. Eastern will compete in the MAC Commonwealth starting next year.