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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Senior Tyshun Stephens scored a career-high 30 points to help lead visiting Nazareth to a 66-56 victory over St. John Fisher in a men's Empire 8 Conference basketball game on Tuesday evening. The Golden Flyers used a decisive 18-3 scoring run to reclaim their lead and pull away from the Cardinals. Nazareth's defense held Fisher to five points in the final five minutes of the game to secure the victory.

With the win, the Golden Flyers improve to 11-4 overall and 5-1 in Empire 8 Conference games. Following the loss, the Cardinals drop to 9-7 overall and 4-3 in conference contests. It was the second meeting this season between the two teams. Nazareth also beat Fisher, 78-71, in the Wendy's College Classic earlier this season.

Trailing 48-42, Stephens ignited Nazareth's second half scoring run with a three-point play and a layup in a span of 40 seconds. Junior Scott Hayford added two three-point baskets sandwiched around a jumper by Stephens to give the Golden Flyers the lead for good. Junior Brad Ford chipped in a three-point basket with just under five minutes remaining in regulation to extend Nazareth's lead to 58-51. A minute later, Stephens capped the run with a two-point bucket.

The Golden Flyers converted 6 of 8 (75 percent) free throws in the final 77 seconds to secure the victory. Nazareth's defense forced Fisher into three turnovers and three missed shots to hold the Cardinals to two layups and a free throw in the final five minutes of regulation.

In the first half, Nazareth began the game with a 9-2 lead after Stephens connected from behind the arc. Fisher trimmed its deficit to two points several times but timely baskets by the Golden Flyers allowed them to maintain the lead. Nazareth used a quick 8-0 run to stretch its lead to a game-high 12 points, 29-17, following two-point and three-point baskets by Brad Ford and a three-point basket by freshman Maurice Mills. The Golden Flyers settled for a 32-26 lead at the break following two Fisher free throws in the final seconds of the period.

Nazareth held the lead through much of the beginning and middle of the second half. Fisher took a short lead following a 12-1 scoring run. The run provided the Cardinals with their 48-42 advantage with 10:33 to play in regulation. Prior to Fisher's run, Nazareth led 41-36 five minutes into the second half.

In Tuesday's game, Stephens doubled his scoring average as he entered the contest averaging 15.1 points per game. Stephens finished the game shooting 56 percent (10-18) from the field, and he converted 8-9 free throw opportunities. Stephens also set up additional Nazareth scoring opportunities and finished with a game-high four assists. Brad Ford added 16 points, and Hayford chipped in eight points. Mills finished with five points. The Golden Flyers connected on 55 percent (11-20) of their three-point attempts.

Jason Norsen had a team-high 27 points for Fisher. Norsen scored 23 of his points in the second half. The Cardinals finished just eight percent (1-12) on their three-point attempts. Norsen entered the game as Fisher's leading scorer with just under 15 points per game. Thad Weir entered the game averaging 10.3 points per game and Nazareth held him to only four points.

The Golden Flyers finished with a 32-31 edge in total rebounds. For Nazareth, Mills had a team-high eight rebounds, followed by Brad Ford with seven rebounds. Norsen collected a team-high eight boards for Fisher.

Nazareth has two Empire 8 basketball games this weekend. The Golden Flyers are at Stevens on Friday and travel to Hartwick on Saturday.