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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Junior Phil Scaffidi scored a team-high 13 points for Nazareth, but Hartwick outlasted the Golden Flyers for the 59-54 Empire 8 conference men's basketball game. The Hawks held Nazareth to 22-70 (31 percent) shooting from the field for the victory.

Following the loss, the Golden Flyers drop to 7-4 overall and 0-2 in Empire 8 games. Hartwick improves to 5-5 overall and 1-0 in conference games.

Nazareth had a nine-point lead, 28-19, following a two-point jumper by junior Tyshun Stephens with just under two minutes to play in the first half. The Hawks finished the half by scoring the final five points to cut their deficit to 28-24 at the break.

Hartwick continued its scoring run into the second half as the Hawks scored the first eight points to take a 32-28 lead 4:45 into the half. Hartwick stretched its lead to eight points after Jared Suderley converted a three-point play with 12:03 remaining in regulation.

Over the next 10 minutes, Nazareth chipped away at its deficit and cut the Hawks lead to one point. Stephens and senior Dominque Kendrick each had a three-point basket, and the scoring run was capped by a three-point play by Scaffidi.

Once the Golden Flyers cut their deficit, Suderley answered for the Hawks with a two-point basket to rebuild Hartwick's lead to three points with 1:48 remaining. Nazareth's last three-point attempts were off the mark to allow the Hawks to hold on for the 59-54 victory.

Kendrick and junior Jason Corletta each finished with 10 points for Nazareth while Waldbillig added eight points and a team-high nine rebounds. Nazareth held a 38-37 edge in rebounds and forced the Hawks into 17 turnovers.

Suderley finished with a game-high 19 points and 12 rebounds for Hartwick. Anthony Keane recorded 12 points and Mark Blazek and Chris Ryder added 10 points apiece. The Hawks' unrelenting defense held the Golden Flyers to 5-29 (17 percent) shooting from beyond the three-point arc.

Nazareth hosts Stevens in another Empire 8 contest Saturday afternoon.