PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Visiting Nazareth outscored St. John Fisher 14-8 in overtime Saturday to complete a second-half rally that enabled the Golden Flyers to close out their regular season in men’s basketball with a 68-62 win over the Cardinals.
Nazareth completed the regular season at 17-8 overall and 10-4 in the Empire 8 Conference. The Golden Flyers will be the second seed for next weekend's Empire 8 Conference Tournament at Hartwick. Nazareth will play third-seeded Stevens in a first-round game Friday in Oneonta. Top-seeded Hartwick fourth-seeded Ithaca in the other first-round match-up. The championship game is Saturday.
Hartwick gained the top seed for next weekend’s Empire 8 Conference Tournament with a 91-76 win over Stevens. Ithaca is the fourth seed after defeating Utica 110-96 Saturday in the final day of regular-season competition.
In overtime, junior Tyshun Stephens scored seven of his team-high 19 points to spearhead the Golden Flyers' surge. After Fisher took a 57-56 lead on a three-pointer by Jordan Gettings (23 poinits), Phil Scaffidi and Stephens each connected on three-point shots to give Nazareth the lead for good, 62-57. Stephens and Scaffidi each sank a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to seal the win.
Nazareth was in trouble early on as Fisher raced to a 23-7 lead in the first 12 minutes behind seven points from Justin Plata. Nazareth shot poorly in the first half, hitting just 7 of 26 shots (26.9 percent), including 4 of 17 from three-point range. Nazareth made a run toward the end of the first half as Brad Ford and Stephens each connected on long-range shots to cut the score to 28-22. Gettings, however, scored the last five points of the first half as Fisher took a 33-22 lead at the break.
A 23-11 scoring run over the first 14 minutes of the second half enabled Nazareth to take its first lead, 45-44. Phil Scaffidi hit a short jumper with 5:51 left to complete the run.
Nazareth was up three, 50-47, after a basket by Ford with 3:22 left in regulation, but Fisher forced overtime as David Cardone his three-pointer and Plata and Gettings each made baskets in the closing seconds to tie the score at 54. Nazareth had the ball for the last shot of regulation, but Stephens drove to the basket and was unable to convert on an off-balance shot.
In overtime, Nazareth made four of five shots and 4 of 4 free throws.
In addition to Stephens' 19 points, Scaffidi scored 14 and Ford had 13 with a game-high 11 rebounds. Nazareth also got a boost off the bench from senior Gren Lothridge, who had nine points, eight rebounds and three blocks.