UTICA, N.Y. -- Visiting Nazareth stretched a three-point lead into 11 points late in the second half following two three-point baskets by senior Phil Scaffidi to down Utica 89-76 in a men's Empire 8 basketball game Friday evening.
With the victory, the Golden Flyers improve to 7-4 overall and 1-0 in conference contests. The Pioneers drop to 4-7 overall and 0-1 in Empire 8 games following the loss.
Nazareth scored the opening basket of the second half and maintained its lead throughout the second half. Freshman Jamell Johnson hit one of two free throws to cap a 7-0 scoring run spanning 2:33 to provide the Golden Flyers with a 65-58 lead midway through the period. Junior Dan Waldbillig started the run with four consecutive points on a two-point jumper and a layup. Senior Jason Corletta followed with a two-point basket before Johnson's free throw.
Prior to Nazareth's run, the first 6:36 of the second half featured five lead changes and four ties. After the Golden Flyers' scoring run, Utica closed to within two points, 68-66, after Jevin McClendon's basket with 7:36 to play in regulation.
Leading 73-70, Nazareth embarked on a decisive 8-0 scoring run to pull away from the Pioneers. Sophomore Brad Ford connected on two free throws, followed by Scaffidi's two three-point baskets. Scaffidi's second three provided Nazareth with an 84-73 lead with 2:59 to play in the game. Sophomore Scott Hayford extended the Golden Flyers' lead to a game-high 13 points with a layup to secure Nazareth's victory.
Similar to the opening minutes of the second half, the first 20 minutes included several ties and lead changes as the teams traded baskets. The period ended with seven ties and five lead changes. Scaffidi gave the Golden Flyers the largest lead of the half, 41-35, with 3:55 to play in the period. The Pioneers held multiple four-point leads during the first half. Utica scored the final basket of the period to claim a 45-44 lead at the break.
Corletta finished with a team-high 21 points for Nazareth. Scaffidi and senior Tyshun Stephens tallied 19 points and 18 points, respectively. Ford finished with 13 points and a game-high 13 total rebounds. The Golden Flyers finished with a 45-33 advantage in total rebounds, including a 19-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Stephens recorded a game-high eight assists to set-up Nazareth's offense.
The Golden Flyers shot over 51 percent (15-29) in the second half to pull away from the Pioneers. Nazareth finished the game with a plus-6 in the turnover battle as the Golden Flyers forced Utica into making 15 turnovers.
Matt Baldwin had a game-high 24 points to lead Utica. Jeff Ward recorded 16 points, and Chris Jeffers and Aaron Nevins each added 11 points for the Pioneers.