Box l Updated stats
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Visiting Ithaca rallied from a first half double-digit deficit to defeat Nazareth 88-86 in a hard-fought men's Empire 8 basketball game Friday evening. Four Golden Flyers finished in double figures. Sophomore Tyshun Stephens led all players with a game-high 26 points. Stephens was followed by juniors Phil Scaffidi, Jason Corletta, and Greg Lothridge with 18 points, 15 points, and 13 points, respectively.

Following the loss, Nazareth drops to 4-5 in Empire 8 games and 11-7 overall. The Bombers improve to 7-2 in conference games and 14-4 overall.

The Bombers claimed their first lead of the second half, 75-73, following a basket by Phil Barera with just under seven minutes remaining in regulation. For the next several minutes, the contest stayed within a one possession as the teams traded baskets. Christian Jordan connected on a three-point basket with 2:23 to play to give Ithaca an 80-75 lead.

Corletta and Stephens answered for Nazareth with two free throws and a layup to cut Nazareth's deficit to one point with 1:35 remaining. Ithaca took an 84-81 lead following two free throws by Barera. The Golden Flyers' missed an opportunity to tie the score on their next possession, as Corletta's three-point attempt was off the mark. Ithaca finished the final minute going 4-8 from the free throw line to hold on for the victory. Stephens connected on a final three-point shot as the final seconds expired to cut the final score to 88-86.

The Golden Flyers held the lead throughout most of the game, building a game-high lead of 12 points with about five minutes remaining in the first half. Nazareth built its first half lead thanks to consistent shooting from the free throw line and beyond the arc. The Golden Flyers were 13-16 (81 percent) from the charity stripe and 5-9 (56 percent) on three-point attempts.

After freshman Brad Ford provided Nazareth with an 11-point lead with 59 seconds remaining in the first half, Ithaca scored back-to-back baskets in the remaining time to cut its deficit to six points at the break.

The Bombers' depth aided their rally as six players finished in double figures. Barera had a team-high 23 points, followed by Christian Jordan, Chris Cruz-Rivas, and Sean Rossi with 13 points each. Jordan Marcus and Andrei Oztemel both added 10 points.

Ford finished with eight points and a team-high 12 rebounds for the Golden Flyers. Sophomore Dan Waldbillig also chipped in five points and five rebounds.

Nazareth travels to RIT Tuesday evening to take on the Tigers in another Empire 8 conference match-up.