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JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Sophomore Brad Ford's contested three-point shot rimmed out as regulation expired to thwart visiting Nazareth's attempt to force overtime. New Jersey City's Keith Williams was 4-4 from the free throw line in the final 26 seconds to help secure the Gothic Knights' 63-60 non-conference victory over the Golden Flyers.

Following the loss, Nazareth drops to 5-4 overall. New Jersey City improves to 9-1 overall with the win.

The Golden Flyers used a 7-0 scoring run to build a 32-25 lead early in the second half, and Jake Fladd's layup with 12:23 to play in the period stretched Nazareth's lead to eight points.

The Gothic Knights, however, took their first lead of the second half with 2:47 to play in regulation following  two points from Keith Williams. On the Golden Flyers' ensuing possession, junior Tyshun Stephens reclaimed Nazareth's lead with two free throws. After the Golden Flyers' defense stopped New Jersey City, Ford collected an offensive rebound and scored a layup to extend Nazareth's lead to three points with 1:46 remaining.

In the next 1:12, the Gothic Knights took advantage of back-to-back fouls on the Golden Flyers to take the lead for good. Walik Albright converted a three-point play to tie the game, 57-57, then Stephens was called for an offensive charge on Nazareth's possession. New Jersey City scored a layup with 34 seconds remaining to go ahead 59-57. Despite the four free throws by Williams, a three-point basket by senior Jason Corletta with 16 seconds left kept Nazareth in the game. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, neither Ford nor Stephens were able to get an open look at the basket. Ford's contested attempt to tie the game rimmed out as time expired.

The first half featured four ties and three lead changes as each team had scoring runs. The Knights opened the game with five points in the first 28 seconds to take the early lead. Nazareth battled back to take a 25-19 lead with 4:17 remaining in the first half following consecutive three-point baskets by Stephens and Corletta and a layup by Fladd. New Jersey City's defense, however, stymied the Golden Flyers' offense during the final minutes of the period and forced Nazareth into five turnovers and two missed shots. The Gothic Knights scored the final six points of the half to go into the second half deadlocked at 25 points apiece.

Corletta and Stephens finished with 17 points and 13 points, respectively, for the Golden Flyers. Ford also had 10 points and seven rebounds while Fladd tallied nine points and seven rebounds. Nazareth finished with a 38-30 advantage in total rebounds. Senior Phil Scaffidi also chipped in five points, and freshman Jamell Johnson had four points.

Kaihrique Irick scored a game-high 24 points for New Jersey City. Williams and Albright added 13 points apiece to the Knights' offensive attack. The Knights' held a 19-14 advantage in free throws made and forced Nazareth's into 19 turnovers to outscore the Golden Flyers in the final minutes. New Jersey City's full-court defense consistently harassed Nazareth's offense, leading to turnovers and a shortened shot clock.

The Golden Flyers will try to snap their three-game losing streak in their next contest at Cortland on January 4th. Nazareth opens its Empire 8 schedule January 6th and 7th with games at Utica and Ithaca. The Golden Flyers return to the Kidera Gymnasium on January 10th to host Wells in a non-conference contest.