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ONEONTA, N.Y. -- Hartwick outscored visiting Nazareth 40-22 in the first half and went on to defeat the Golden Flyers 73-51 in a men's Empire 8 basketball game on Saturday evening. Junior Brad Ford and freshman Mitch Ford combined to score 22 of the Golden Flyers' points. Hartwick connected on 12-27 (44 percent) of its three-point attempts to build its lead.

With the loss, Nazareth falls to 11-6 overall and 4-3 in conference games. Following their victory, the Hawks improve to 10-6 overall and 2-3 in Empire 8 games.

Hartwick connected on its first three field goal attempts to score the first seven points in the opening minutes of Saturday's contest. Within the next few minutes, Nazareth answered with eight of the next nine points to even the game. Senior Tyshun Stephens scored the Golden Flyers' first basket. Brad Ford contributed two baskets around a bucket by Mitch.

Following Nazareth's game-tying scoring run, the Hawks scored 16 consecutive points to take control of the game. The Hawks' defense forced the Golden Flyers into five turnovers and three missed shots during their four-minute scoring run. Hartwick extended its lead to 20 points, 40-20, before freshman Maurice Mills scored a layup in the waning moments of the opening period.

Mitch Ford opened the second half with a dunk to trim the Golden Flyers' deficit to 16, however, Hartwick maintained its double-digit advantage throughout the period. With about five minutes to play in regulation, Hartwick extended its lead to a game-high 29 points. Nazareth closed the game with a 12-5 scoring run, which was capped by a three-point basket by freshman Grant Vicks as time expired.

Nazareth entered the game connecting on almost 45 percent of its field goal attempts, including almost 37 percent of their shots from beyond the arc. In Saturday's game, the Golden Flyers finished 18-50 (36 percent) from the field, including 4-14 (29 percent) on their three-point attempts. Nazareth's shooting percentage improved in the second half, but the Golden Flyers were unable to dig out of their initial hole.

The Hawks connected on 15 of 29 field goals (52 percent) in the first half to build their overwhelming lead. Hartwick finished with 12 three-point baskets, including seven in the first half. Hartwick also controlled the glass with a 40-23 advantage in total rebounds, which provided the Hawks with additional offensive possessions.

Brad Ford finished with a team-high 12 points followed by 10 points by Mitch Ford. Stephens, who entered the game averaging over 15 points per game, finished with two points. Mills finished with six points as Nazareth's third leading scorer. Junior Jack Giles chipped in five points. Brad Ford collected a team-high five rebounds.

For Hartwick, Jared Suderley connected on 8 of 13 shots, including all six of his three-point attempts to tally a game-high 25 points. Coming into the game, Suderley was the Hawks' leading scorer with an average of almost 19 points per game. Suderley also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Mike Geisser added 15 points for the Hawks.

Nazareth is in action again on Tuesday evening when the Golden Flyers travel to Utica for another critical Empire 8 Conference game.