Men's Basketball | 4/6/2021 9:22:14 PM
No. 3 seed Nazareth College and No. 4 seed Russell Sage advanced in the 2021 Empire 8 Spring Men's Basketball Tournament after winning opening round games on Tuesday, April 6. The Golden Flyers withstood a late rally to defeat No. 6 Elmira College, 64-54, while Russell Sage pulled away to knock off No. 5 Keuka College, 79-58.
Nazareth will travel to take on No. 2 seed Utica College in one semifinal at 5:30 pm Friday evening, while Sage heads west to take on top-seed St. John Fisher in the other semifinal.
No. 3 NAZARETH 64, No. 6 ELMIRA 54
Nazareth senior Stephen Gabel scored 15 of his game-high 25 points in the second half Tuesday yo lift the Golden Flyers to the win. Gabel hit 10 of 13 shots from the field, including one three-pointer, and went 4-for-6 from the free throw line to collect his points. Sophomore Jordan Haggard added 17 points and eight rebounds and senio Isaac Nelson had 11 points and six rebounds.
Gabel and Haggard each scored 10 points in the first half, but Nazareth went just 1-for-9 from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes and settled for a 32-28 lead at the break.
In the second half, Elmira scored the first two baskets to tie the score, but Gabel hit a three-pointer with 16:15 left to ignite a 15-3 scoring run that ended with Nazareth on top 52-38 with 11:30 left. Nelson and Haggard each nailed 3-point shots during the run with Gabel also sinking a pair of free throws.
Elmira rallied to within five points, 56-51, late in the game, but Haggard hit back-to-back short jumpers to help Nazareth stay ahead.
Isiah Charles was Elmira's high scorer with 17 points.
No. 4 RUSSELL SAGE 79, No. 5 KEUKA 58
The Gators posted a 79-58 win over Keuka in their first home postseason game as an Empire 8 program.
The Wolves led by as many as eight points three times in the first half, the last coming at 13:10 (22-14). The Gators tied the game at 25-25 at 8:23 on a 3-pointer from Amani Cummings. Jalon Borders added a layup and Cummings made one of two free throws and a three-pointer down the stretch to give the Gators a 40-35 lead at the break.
Sage emerged from the locker room at the break and never looked back as they cruised to the victory after dominating on the boards, 45-29. Four starters finished in double digits as Borders finished with a team-best 15 points and had seven assists to go with his two steals. Cummings added 14 points with five rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Gators. Stuart Phair had 12 points with six rebounds, a block and two steals, while forward Jason Geronimo had eight points with five boards, two assists and a steal.
Keuka guard Nana Oteng had a game-high 21 points and made 5-of-9 three pointers in the game with seven defensive rebounds, two assists and two steals. DJ Billings had 10 points, while Daniel Obunse led the team with his eight rebounds and had five points.
Friday's semifinals pit the top four seeds in the E8 Tournament. St. John Fisher knocked off Sage, 100-68 on March 14, while Nazareth posted a 72-63 win over Utica on March 22.
2021 Empire 8 Men's Basketball Championship Schedule
Tuesday, April 6 - First Round
No. 3 Nazareth defeats No. 6 Elmira, 64-54 - STATS
No. 4 Russell Sage defeats No. 5 Keuka, 79-58 - STATS
Friday, April 9 - Semifinals
No. 1 St. John Fisher hosts No. 4 Russell Sage - TBA
No. 2 Utica hosts No. 3 Nazareth - 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 11 - Championship (at Highest Remaining Seed)
Semifinal winner 1 vs. Semifinal winner 2 (Highest seed hosts) - TBA