Box Score Nazareth 88, Utica 78 - Box Score

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Five Pioneers scored in double figures Saturday afternoon but it was not enough as host Nazareth College pulled away in the final two minutes of play to earn an 88-78 victory over Utica College in Empire 8 Conference play. Junior forward Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) netted 16 points and added 12 rebounds, while senior Reggie German (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) chipped in with 16 points as well for the Pioneers.

Four Nazareth players finished in double-digits in scoring to provide the Golden Flyers with a ten point victory over the Pioneers.  The Golden Flyers improve to 15-7 overall and 8-3 in conference play, while the Pioneers fell to 7-15 overall and 3-8 in Empire 8 contests. Nazareth currently stands in third place in the conference standings, one game behind Stevens and Hartwick. Stevens defeated Alfred and Hartwick knocked off Elmira in their Saturday games.

Nazareth pulled away midway through the second half following a three-point basket by freshman Jamell Johnson, which provided the Golden Flyers with a six-point lead. After trading baskets, Nazareth stretched its advantage to 10 points, 66-56, following a three-point basket and two free throws by Brad Ford. Ford's free throws gave the Golden Flyers a double-digit lead with roughly nine minutes remaining in regulation. Ford had his five-point explosion in just 10 seconds.

Senior Phil Scaffidi provided Nazareth with its first 12-point advantage after connecting on two free throws with 2:48 to play. The Pioneers closed to within six points twice in the final 1:11 but could not seem to overcome the Naz advantage. Junior Tyshun Stephens finished 7-for-8 from the charity stripe as Nazareth connected on nine of its 10 free throw opportunities down the stretch.

Stephens and senior Jason Corletta ignited the Golden Flyers' offense in the opening minute as each shooter connected on their first attempts. Corletta's three gave Nazareth a 5-0 lead just 43 seconds into the game. The Pioneers answered with nine straight points, then the teams traded baskets. In the first 11 minutes, the game featured nine lead changes and three ties.

Utica stretched its lead to 31-23 following a brief 8-1 scoring run. Nazareth answered by finishing the half with a 13-2 run. The Golden Flyers' defense allowed the Pioneers just one field goal in the final five minutes of the first half.

Prior to the Golden Flyers' second half scoring run, the Pioneers and Golden Flyers traded the lead before Corletta connected on a three-pointer three minutes into the period to give Nazareth the lead for good. Utica stayed within two possessions of the Golden Flyers until Waldbillig's free throw and a three by Ford, which put Nazareth ahead by eight points.

Matt Baldwin (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) and Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) each recorded 14 points for the Pioneers. Jevin McClendon (Poughkeepsie, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) added 10 points off the bench for UC. Ward and Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) collected 12 rebounds and 10 rebounds, respectively. Utica finished over 52 percent (33-63) shooting on its field goals, but were only 33 percent (6-for-18) from the charity stripe.

Sophomore Brad Ford amassed a game-high 18 points after finishing the contest 6-for-8 from the field, including 2-for-3 from beyond the three-point arc for Naz. Sophomore Scott Hayford tied his career-high with 12 points, and he collected a team-high 12 rebounds.

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