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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Senior Ryan McAdam had game highs in points (23) and rebounds (15) for host Nazareth Saturday as the Golden Flyers defeated St. John Fisher in a key Empire 8 Conference game for men's basketball, 79-70.

The Nazareth victory creates a logjam in the conference standings as Nazareth, Utica and Fisher are in a three-way tie for third place with 6-5 records. Nazareth won for the fifth straight time to improve to 9-11 overall. Fisher dropped its fourth straight and dipped to 14-6.

Nazareth had a three-point halftime lead, 37-34, and extended that advantage to 12 early in the second half, 52-40, following a basket by Jeff DeHimer with 14:23 left. After Nazareth's Corey McAdam was whistled for his fourth foul and went to the bench with 12:42 left, Fisher embarked on an 11-point scoring run to close within one, 52-51, with 9:40 left.

Ryan McAdam halted the run with a three-pointer on Nazareth's next possession. Fisher was able to tie the score three times at 55-55, 57-57 and 59-59 before a three-pointer by Corey McAdam with 5:26 left gave Nazareth the lead for good, 62-59.

Nazareth's lead continued to grow. Two free throws each by Ryan McAdam, Phil Scaffidi, Corey McAdam and Jordan Major extended the lead to seven, 73-66, with 1:19 to play.  Corey McAdam scored another basket and made four more free throws in closing minute to keep the Golden Flyers in front.

Ryan McAdam's 23 points included five three-pointers. Corey McAdam finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. DeHimer added 12 points and five rebounds. Junior Matt Newman led Fisher with 21 points. Connor Henderson scored 13 and Trevor Stearns had 10.

Each team was an identical 27 for 62 from the field, but Nazareth made eight three-pointers to Fisher's two. Nazareth also enjoyed a whopping 48-28 rebounding advantage.

Nazareth resumes its E8 schedule Tuesday at Alfred at 8 p.m.