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AURORA, N.Y. -- Junior Brad Ford scored a career-high 31 points and collected a game-high 12 rebounds for visiting Nazareth Tuesday as the Golden Flyers defeated Wells in a non-conference men's basketball game, 73-64.

The Golden Flyers improved to 6-2 overall, while Wells slipped to 3-4. The Golden Flyers are home again Friday to host Houghton at 8 p.m.

Ford made 9 of 19 shots from the field, including a pair of three-point baskets and went 11 for 17 from the free throw line to compile his 31 points. Senior Tyshun Stephens added 16 points plus five rebounds and freshman Maurice Mills had 10 points with eight rebounds.

Nazareth led by as many as 10 points in the first half and never trailed in the second as Ford scored 21 of his points. A basket by Ford with 6:40 to go in the first half made the score 27-17. In the second half the lead expanded to 13 points, 50-37, when Stephens hit a three-pointer with 13:31 to go.

Wells stayed within striking distance and used a 22-11 scoring run to close to within two, 61-59, on a jumper by Jonathan Hurtado with less than five minutes to go. After a couple of solid defensive series, Nazareth pushed the lead back to seven, 66-59, on two field goals by Ford and a free throw by Scott Hayford.

The Golden Flyers missed some free throws earlier in the second half, but made some clutch throws down the stretch to maintain the lead. Ford made two with 1:05 to go, then Stephens sank two more with :39 left. Jack Giles made one with :23 left, then Stephens closed out the scoring with a pair of foul shots with :08 left.

Nazareth made 21 of 58 shots overall (36.2 percent) with six three-pointers. The Golden Flyers went 25 for 39 from the free-throw line (64 percent). Wells went 24 for 59 from the field (40.7 percent) and made four three-pointers. Nazareth had a 46-34 rebounding advantage.