Nazareth Wins Men's Basketball Opener, 65-51
CARLISLE, Pa. -- Sophomore Dan Waldbillig scored a career-high 19 points and junior Phil Scaffidi also scored 19 as Nazareth won its season opener in men's basketball Friday with a 65-51 win over Oneonta in the first round of the Pizza Hut Classic hosted by Dickinson College.
Nazareth will play in Saturday's championship game at 3:30 p.m. against Dickinson, a 56-50 winner over Messiah in Friday's second game.
Waldbillig made 5 of 6 shots from the field and 9 of 10 free throws to amass his 19 points. He also grabbed a team-best 9 rebounds. Scaffidi made 8 of 12 shots, including one three-pointer, and grabbed 8 rebounds.
With the score tied at 13-13 early in the first half, Nazareth went on a 16-3 scoring run and never trailed again before settling for a 31-20 lead at halftime.
The game never got close in the second half as the lead grew as large as 22 points, 63-41, after a basket by Tyshun Stephens with 4:11 left.
Stephens also had a strong game for Nazareth with 15 points and six assists. Freshman Brad Ford didn't score, but grabbed seven rebounds.