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ITHACA, N.Y. – Five Golden Flyers finished in double-figures for visiting Nazareth, but Ithaca held off the Golden Flyers' rally in the final minutes for a 94-84 men's basketball win. Sophomore Tyshun Stephens had a team-high 22 points, followed by 15 points by fellow-sophomore Dan Waldbillig.

With the victory, Ithaca improves to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the Empire 8. After winning the Wendy's Tournament last week, Nazareth had its four-game winning streak snapped. The Golden Flyers drop to 6-2 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

Ithaca claimed an early 17-10 lead in the first five minutes of the game. During the next two minutes, however, Stephens had six consecutive points with a three-point basket, a free throw, and a two-point jumper. After an Ithaca basket, freshman Brad Ford scored the next four points to give Nazareth a 20-19 lead with 11:19 to play in the first half.

The Bombers and Golden Flyers traded scores for the remaining ten minutes of the half, with neither team allowing a scoring run. The score was tied six times and the lead changed hands eight times during the first half. Waldbillig connected on a two-point jumper in the final minute of the half to cut Ithaca's advantage to 40-39 at halftime. Strong defense from Nazareth prevented the Bombers from scoring in the final seconds of the half.

Ithaca's Andrei Oztemel had 13 points in the first 20 minutes to lead all players. Stephens and Waldbillig tallied nine points and eight points, respectively, for the Golden Flyers in the first half.

Oztemel opened the second half with a three-point basket to extend Ithaca's lead to four points. After trading baskets, an 11-3 run extended the Bombers' lead to 58-49 with about 14 minutes remaining. A basket by junior Greg Lothridge and a free throw by Ford consisted of Nazareth's points during Ithaca's run. Nazareth then answered with back-to-back three-point attempts by Scaffidi and Corletta to cut the Golden Flyers' deficit to three points, 58-55.

After their respective runs, Nazareth and Ithaca resumed trading baskets, maintaining the Bombers' small lead. With about 7:30 remaining, Ford connected on a three-point attempt from the top of the arc to tie the score, 65-65.

On their next two possessions, however, the Bombers reclaimed the lead by hitting four consecutive free throws. Ithaca extended its advantage with a 9-3 scoring run to take a 77-68 lead with 2:51 to play in regulation.

A quick 42-second scoring run cut Nazareth's deficit to five points with 1:49 to play. Stephens connected on two free throws and a layup sandwiched around a Bombers' basket. Corletta capped the 6-2 run with two free throws.

On Ithaca's ensuing possession, however, Nazareth was whistled for an intentional foul. After making two free throws, the Bombers received two additional free throw chances on a personal foul to stretch their lead to 83-74.

Corletta answered the free throws with a three-point basket, and two free throws by Ford to cut Ithaca's lead to five points with 1:04 to play, but the Bombers held off the Golden Flyers' rally.

In addition to the points by Stephens and Waldbillig, Corletta, Ford, and Scaffidi finished with 13 points, 12 points, and 11 points, respectively. Lothridge also chipped in eight points and six rebounds. Ford had a game-high 12 rebounds while Stephens tallied seven assists for the Golden Flyers.

The Bombers also finished with five players in double-digits. Jordan Marcus had a team-high 22 points followed by 18 points by Barera. Ithaca pulled away in the final minute by connecting on the majority of their free throws.

Nazareth is in action next December 17th when the Golden Flyers travel to Hilbert for a non-conference game.