ONEONTA, NY - Nazareth led by as many as 18 points in the first half en route to a 90-76 victory over Hartwick's men's basketball team on Saturday at Lambros Arena. The Hawks fall to 14-8 overall and 9-4 in the Empire 8. Naz is now 13-9 and 6-7.

Jared Suderley (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley) led Hartwick with 23 points and nine rebounds. Mark Blazek (Erie, PA/Erie Cathedral Prep) added 16 points and Andres Carpio (Beacon, NY/Lock Haven Univ.) netted 13.

With the loss, the Hawks fall a game out of first place in the conference but still control their own destiny in their quest for an E8 playoff spot with three games to play against Stevens (Tuesday), Ithaca (Friday) and Elmira (Saturday).

The Golden Flyers, who led for all but 28 seconds in the game, jumped out to a 17-8 lead in the opening five minutes and never led by less than nine points throughout the first half. The Hawks entered halftime with a 49-34 deficit.

In the second half, Nazareth's advantage swelled to 17 points but the Hawks would slowly cut away at the lead. An Anthony Keane (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) jumper with eight minutes left made it a six-point game, 72-66, but the Golden Flyers scored the next four points and the Hawks never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Jason Corletta led five players in double figures for the Golden Flyers with 22 points. Dan Waldbillig added 19 points and Brad Ford registered 18 points and nine rebounds. Tyshun Stephens and Greg Lothridge each scored 10.

The Hawks hit 46% of their shots on the night but made just 29% from long distance. Naz made 50% from the floor and out-rebounded the Hawks 41-29 in the game.

Hartwick still remains alive in the hunt for the Empire 8 regular season crown with its next two games against the two conference frontrunners. One victory in their final three games will put the Hawks in the playoffs.

The Blue and White get their first crack at clinching on Tuesday night in Hoboken, NJ as the Hawks face Stevens at 8 p.m.