Nazareth Downs Stevens to Advance to E8 Title Game
Box Score
ONEONTA, N.Y. -- Senior
Brad Ford scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds Friday for third-seeded Nazareth as the Golden Flyers defeated second-seeded Stevens, 71-60, in an Empire 8 Conference playoff game for men's basketball at Hartwick's Lambros Arena.
Nazareth's win aveneged a pair of regular-season losses to the Ducks and improved the Golden Flyers' overall record to 19-7. Stevens finished its season at 17-9. The Golden Flyers will play for the conference championship Saturday at 3 p.m. against the winner of the Hartwick-Alfred matchup.
Ford's points came on 9-for-16 shooting with three three-point baskets. Senior
Jack Giles added 13 points and sophomore
Mitch Ford scored 12.
Ford scored 12 of his points in the first half as Nazareth built a 37-26 halftime lead. The Golden Flyers continued to expand on that lead in the second half as they led by as many as 20 points before Stevens mounted a mini comeback.
Nazareth made 49.1 percent of its shots (28-for-57) from the field with 5 three-pointers. The Golden Flyers were just 10 for 21 from the free throw line (47.6 percent).
Matt Skrelja led Stevens with 17 points and eight rebounds. Evan Kilmchak and Kenny Gan each scored 12.
In Saturday's final, Nazareth will be seeking its third E8 title and first since 2010. Nazareth last reached the finals in 2012.