BOXSCORE | CUMULATIVE STATS
YORK, Pa. – Visiting Nazareth picked up where it left off at the semester break Friday as the Golden Flyers defeated York College, 99-79, in the first round of the White Rose City Classic.
The Golden Flyers improved to 6-1 overall with the non-conference victory and will play again Saturday at 3 p.m. for the tournament title against Messiah, a 64-60 overtime winner over William Paterson in Friday's other game. York, which had a three-game win streak snapped, is 4-4. The Spartans will play William Paterson in Saturday's consolation game at 1 p.m.
Nazareth won in decisive fashion as four players scored in double figures, led by senior guard Joe Canori’s 28 points. In addition, sophomore point guard Corey McAdam set a school record with 19 assists. He came into the game ranked second nationally in that category and boosted his per game average to 10.7. McAdam shattered the single-game assist mark of 16 set by Ross Comerford in a home game against Farmingdale on Dec. 3, 2000.
"He was unbelievable," said Nazareth Coach Mike Daley. "He got everyone involved so that we got a lot of contributions from everyone."
Senior center Tyler Smith contributed a season-high 18 points; sophomore guard Rayvon Higdon had 17 and junior forward Ryan McAdam had 16 points. The Golden Flyers shot 56.5 percent from the field for the game (39 for 69) while holding York to 46 percent shooting (29 for 63).
Nazareth led 52-31 at halftime as Canori scored 17 of his points and McAdam had 13 of his assists. Canori shot 10 for 17 from the field for the game and made six three-pointers to make him Nazareth's all-time leader in that category. He now has 219 three-pointers, six more than Darrin Peterson, who has held the all-time mark since 1991.
York threatened in the second half as the Spartans closed to within 11 points, 67-56, on a basket and free throw by Nick Brady with 11:40 to play.
The Golden Flyers answered with seven straight points, including transition baskets by Ryan McAdam, Jeff DeHimer and Higdon, to push the lead back to 18 points, 74-56, with 9:46 to go.
"We knew they would make a run becvuase they're a pretty good team," Daley said. "They started to work the ball inside to their All-American (Chad McGowan, 22 points), but we switched back to a zone and I think that confused them a bit."
Corey McAdam had nine points and six rebounds in addition to his 19 assists.