Tyshun Stephens scored a game-high 22 points

Men's Basketball

Nazareth tops Fisher for 3rd place

Golden Flyers visit Wells Tuesday

Box | Updated stats | Tournament site
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Senior guard Tyshun Stephens combined a game-high 22 points with 10 rebounds and eight assists for Nazareth Saturday as the Golden Flyers salvaged a third-place finish in the Wendy's College Classic with a 78-71 men's basketball victory over St. John Fisher.

The game, played at the University of Rochester Palestra, enabled Nazareth to improve to 5-2 overall. The Golden Flyers have finished in the top three in the Wendy's Classic 18 times in 34 appearances in the annual tournament showcase. Fisher is 3-2 overall.

Stephens, who represented the Golden Flyers on the all-tournament team, was one of four Nazareth players to produce double digit point totals. Junior Brad Ford contributed 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds; junior Scott Hayford scored 12 points and junior Jack Giles added 11 points.

Nazareth jumped on the Cardinals early as Stephens scored the first two baskets of the game and Ford scored nine points during a 17-3 game-opening run. Fisher closed to within five points late in the half, but Nazareth's lead was 33-24 at halftime after Stephens sank a pair of free throws with :02 left.

Fisher rallied in the second half, scoring the first 10 points to take a temporary 34-33 lead. Ford scored on the ensuing possession to trigger a nine-point scoring run to push Nazareth on top, 42-34, with 15:10 to go and the Golden Flyers never trailed again.

Nazareth's lead grew to double digits later in the half as a three-pointer by Giles made it 50-39 with 12 minutes left. Fisher made one final push and closed to within four points, 60-56, following a pair of free throws by Thad Wier with 5:01 to play. Sophomore Vinny Amuso answered with a big three-pointer for Nazareth on the next possession to push the lead back to seven. Amuso, who came off the bench to play a career-high 18 minutes, added a pair of free throws with 1:21 left to boost Nazareth's lead to 11, 74-63. Two free throws by Hayford and another by Giles in the closing seconds helped seal the win.

Nazareth shot 50 percent from the field overall (25 for 50) and 7 for 14 from three-point range. Amuso came off the bench to play a career-high 18 minutes and contributed eight points.

Nazareth returns to action Tuesday to play a non-conference game at Wells at 7 p.m.
Print Friendly Version