Fisher Men's Basketball Earns E8 Bid With Win Over Nazareth
The St. John Fisher College men’s basketball team locked up a spot in the Empire 8 Conference Championship, thanks to a career-high 27 points from Jason Norsen as Fisher defeated host Nazareth College 83-72 on Tuesday night in a pivotal Empire 8 Conference matchup.
With the win, Fisher finishes the regular-season with a 14-11 overall record and a 10-6 mark in the Empire 8. The win also secures Fisher’s 24th consecutive season with a record .500 or better. The Cardinals will return to action on Friday, February 25th in the Empire 8 Championship semifinals at a site and time to be determined.
Fisher scored 50 points in the second half, thanks to shooting 69.6% (16-for-23) from the floor over the final 20 minutes.
Nazareth led 36-33 at the half, but the Cardinals tied the game up just nine seconds into the second period on a 3-pointer from Brent Harder The trey started a 13-2 run with the Cardinals take a 46-38 lead on Norsen’s layup with 15:38 remaining.
The two teams traded baskets over the next 10 minutes before the Cardinals took a 68-56 on a 3-pointer from Jordan Gettings with just under five minutes left.
Nazareth pulled to within five points at 72-67 with 1:28 left, but the Cardinals seals the win at the foul line, where Fisher scored nine of its points in the last 100 seconds.
In the first half, Fisher enjoyed the early lead, as Will Cornett’s jumper with 12:45 left in the first put the Cardinals up 13-8. Nazareth, however, went on an 11-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 19-13 lead.
The Cardinals chipped away and retook the lead at 29-28 with a pair of free throws from Grant Wrap.
Nazareth took the lead back thanks to 8-2 spurt, capped by five points from Jason Corletta.
Norsen led all scorers with 27 points. The sophomore also tallied eight rebounds and blocked five shots.
Harder scored all 14 of his points in the second half, while Gettings added 13.
Brandon Witte was 5-for-6 from the floor and finished with 12 points. Cornett totaled six points, six assists and six rebounds.