Box Score l Updated stats
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Freshman Jamell Johnson scored a career-high 17 points to lead Nazareth past visiting Wells, 71-60, in a non-conference men's basketball game Tuesday evening. Johnson finished 7-11 from the field, including 3-5 from beyond the three-point arc.

With the victory, the Golden Flyers improve to 8-5 overall. The Express fall to 4-9 overall after the loss. Nazareth resumes its Empire 8 schedule this weekend. The Golden Flyers host Alfred on Friday at 8 p.m. and Elmira on Saturday at 4 p.m.

After senior Jason Corletta scored the first points of the game for Nazareth, Wells scored the next seven points to take a five-point lead 3:58 into the contest. The Golden Flyers reclaimed the lead, 18-14, and used a decisive 11-0 scoring run to build an insurmountable lead. Senior Greg Lothridge had a two-point jumper sandwiched between two baskets by Corletta. Johnson capped the run with five points on consecutive baskets as he connected on a three-pointer, then added a two-point jumper. The scoring run provided Nazareth with a 29-14 lead with 6:40 to play in the period.

In addition to their offense, the Golden Flyers' defense held the Express scoreless for over six minutes and without a field goal for almost eight minutes. Nazareth held Wells to 35 percent (7-20) from the field in the first 20 minutes. The Express missed six field goals and had six turnovers during their offensive drought.

The Golden Flyers stretched their lead to a game-high 17 points, 37-20, following a jumper by sophomore Brad Ford. The Express tallied the final four points of the period to trim Nazareth's halftime lead to 39-26.

In the second half, the Golden Flyers only allowed the Express to close to within seven points, 56-49, following a three-point play by EJ Taylor. Nazareth answered with six consecutive points to reclaim its double-digit lead. After Ford converted a free throw opportunity, Johnson connected on a three-point attempt and added a dunk to put Nazareth ahead 62-49 with about seven minutes remaining in regulation. Prior to Tuesday's game, Johnson's career-high was eight points, which he scored against RIT on November 30th.

Wells cut its deficit to nine points with just under three minutes to play in the period, but senior Phil Scaffidi secured Nazareth's victory with the Golden Flyers' next four points.

Ford finished with 16 points and added a game-high 12 rebounds for Nazareth, which finished with a 40-25 advantage in total rebounds, including 19-8 in offensive rebounds. Scaffidi and Corletta finished with 15 points and 11 points, respectively. Corletta recorded a game-high six assists to start Nazareth's offensive attacks.

Terry Harrison amassed a team-high 16 points for the Express. Harrison recorded the vast majority of his points from the charity stripe as he finished 10-13 from the free throw line. Mike Dicampli and Andre Sawyers tallied 12 points apiece for Wells.