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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Junior Brad Ford combined 25 points with 16 rebounds for visiting Nazareth Saturday to lead the Golden Flyers to a 97-89 victory over Buffalo State in an exciting non-conference game at Buffalo State's Sports Arena.

Nazareth improved to 3-1 overall with the win, while the Bengals dropped to 1-1.

Ford was one of six Nazareth players to score in double figures, including Ford's freshman brother Mitch, who tallied 19 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Tyshun Stephens added 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists and junior Jack Giles contributed 12 points. Freshman Maurice Mills and junior Scott Hayford each scored 10 points.

In a game loaded with scoring spurts, Nazareth led by as many as eight points in the first half, 34-26, but the Bengals used a 23-8 scoring run to close out the half to go up 49-42 at the break.

Buffalo State scored the first basket of the second half to extended its lead to nine, 51-42, before Nazareth embarked on a scoring spree of its own. A 22-8 scoring run turned the nine-point deficit into a five-point lead, 64-59, with 14:00 left. A three-poiniter by Hayford enable3d Nazareth to tie the score at 59-59, then Stephens added another three-pointer to give Nazareth a 62-59 advantage and the Golden Flyers never trailed again. Brad Ford, meanwhile, made three of his four of his three-point shots in the second half as Nazareth extended its lead to a game-high 11 points, 75-64, with 12:15 to go.

Buffalo State stayed close and was within two, 89-87, following a basket by Chris Castren with 2:42 left. Stephens answered with another three-pointer to extend Nazareth's leead to five, 92-87, and he added three free throws in the final minute to preserve the win.

Nazareth made 36 of 70 shots from the field overall (51.4 percent) and 17 of 26 free throws (65.4 percent), Nazareth also enjoyed a 51-31 rebounding advantage.

Roderick Epps led the Bengals with a game-high 33 points. Jake Simmons added 22.

Nazareth competes again Wednesday in the first round of the annual Wendy's Classic. Pairings will be revealed Sunday.