Box Score
ROCHESTER, NY- Host Nazareth went on a late 13-2 first-half run to break a 27-all tie and maintained its lead throughout the second half as the Golden Flyers defeated the Hartwick men's basketball team 77-62 on Friday night at Kidera Gymnasium. The Golden Flyers improve their record to 8-3 overall and record their first win in the Empire 8. The Hawks fall to 6-5 overall and 0-2 in the Empire 8.
Jared Suderley (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley) led Hartwick with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting and added five rebounds.
Kyle Bradley (Cornwall, NY/Mansfield University) shot 7-for-14 from the floor for 15 points with nine rebounds and two steals.
Aaron Laing (Laurens, NY/Laurens) was a perfect 4-of-4 off the bench for 11 points.
Four Nazareth players scored in double figures led by Brad Ford who scored 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting. He also added 12 rebounds and two steals. Scott Hayford had 18 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. Tyshun Stephens contributed 14 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. Jack Giles came off the bench to chip in 10 points.
The first half was a tight affair that featured seven lead changes and six ties. Suderley scored the opening basket to give the Hawks the first lead of the game at 19:38 but just over two minutes later, Nazareth would eventually go ahead 7-3.
The rest of the half was a seesaw battle as both teams could not gain any significant runs to pull ahead. A jumper from
Peter Melanson (Little Compton, RI/Little Compton) tied the game at 27-all with 4:03 remaining in the first half. The Golden Flyers then embarked on their 13-2 run to go on top 38-29 at halftime.
In the opening minutes of the second half, both teams struggled as they combined for eight turnovers and six missed field goals. Ford's second of two free throws at 16:35 increased the Nazareth lead to 39-29. After a free throw from
Mike Geisser (East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) brought the deficit back down to nine points, Stephens hit a three-pointer at 15:06 to put the Golden Flyers on top 42-30.
The Hawks would stay in the game as five straight points from Laing reduced the Nazareth lead to 44-37 at 13:28. Following two free throws from Stephens, Bradley converted the traditional three-point play and the Hawks got to within six points, 46-40, with 12:05 left on the clock. A 9-4 Golden Flyer run would increase their lead to 57-44 at 8:44.
Hartwick would get to within nine points, 57-48, with just under eight minutes remaining in the game. That would be as close as the Hawks could get as Nazareth would pull away and come out with the victory.
Nazareth led narrowly in field-goal percentage 47.2% (25-of-53) to Hartwick's 46.2% (24-of-52). The Golden Flyers had a sizable advantage in three-point field goals converting 9-of-20 shots to the Hawks' 2-of-12.
Nazareth dominated on the boards 40-24, which led to an 11-4 advantage in second-chance points. The Golden Flyers also outscored the Hawks 17-10 off of turnovers.
Hartwick is back in action tomorrow afternoon as it will face Houghton on the road. Game time will be at 2 p.m.
