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UTICA, N.Y. -- After battling back from a 20-point deficit in the first half to take a five-point lead in the second half, visiting Nazareth surrendered a 13-1 scoring run to allow Utica to reclaim its lead in the final 10 minutes of regulation. The Pioneers went on to defeat the Golden Flyers 74-69 in a men's Empire 8 Conference basketball game on Tuesday evening. Senior Tyshun Stephens finished with a game-high 26 points for Nazareth. Freshman Mitch Ford added a career-high 25 points.

Following the loss, the Golden Flyers slip to 11-7 overall and 4-4 in Empire 8 games. Utica improves to 7-11 overall and is tied for fourth in the conference standings with a 4-4 record. The top four teams qualify for the Empire 8 Tournament. St. John Fisher, which the Golden Flyers defeated last week, stands in third place with a 5-4 conference record.

Utica took advantage of Nazareth's shooting struggles in the first half, embarking on a 22-2 scoring run spanning roughly seven minutes. The run transformed a 6-6 tie into a 28-8 lead with 9:40 to play in the period. The Golden Flyers chipped away at the deficit, closing to 12 points after two free throws by Mitch Ford.

Nazareth settled for a 13-point deficit, 37-24, at the break after junior Jack Giles connected on two free throws. In the final seconds of the half, classmate Brad Ford collected the defensive rebound and his 75-foot heave at the buzzer glanced off the rim. Mitch Ford had 11 points in the first period to keep Nazareth in the contest.

The Pioneers used a mix of man-to-man and zone defenses to keep the Golden Flyers' offensive attack unbalanced. Nazareth finished the period shooting only 23 percent (7-30) from the field, including 13 percent (2-16) from beyond the three-point arc. Utica, meanwhile, had six different players tally at least five points, and the Pioneers connected on 50 percent (15-30) of their field goal attempts to build its double-digit lead.

The Golden Flyers' shooting heated up to begin the second half as Nazareth opened the second stanza with a 24-6 scoring run in the first 10 minutes to take a 48-43 lead. Mitch Ford's three-point play cut Utica's lead to single-digits, 41-33. Minutes later, Stephens sandwiched two three-point baskets around a layup by Mitch Ford to cut the Nazareth deficit. The 8-0 run was in a span of only 83 seconds.

On the next two possessions, Mitch Ford and junior Scott Hayford each converted layups to give Nazareth a 46-43 lead. It was Nazareth's first lead of the game. The Golden Flyers shot 60 percent (9-15) from the field in the first 6:34 of the period to take the lead. Mitch Ford extended the Nazareth lead to five points with just under 10 minutes to play in regulation.

Aaron Nevins reignited the Utica offense with back-to-back three-point buckets as part of a 13-1 scoring run to reclaim the Pioneers' lead. The run left Utica ahead 56-49 with roughly six minutes to play. Nazareth closed to within three points multiple times but the Pioneers converted 12 of 14 free throw attempts in the final 1:50 to secure the victory.

Stephens and Utica's Matt Baldwin took turns putting their respective teams on their backs offensively. Baldwin scored eight straight points for the Pioneers while Stephens tallied nine straight points for the Nazareth offense.

Despite Utica's proficiency at the free throw line in the closing minutes, the Golden Flyers closed to within three points, 72-69, following a three-point basket by Stephens with about seven seconds to play. The Pioneers' Connor Maisch connected on both of his free throw opportunities to seal Utica's five-point victory.

Nazareth entered the game shooting 37 percent on three-point attempts. The Golden Flyers were 18 percent (6-33) from behind the arc in Tuesday's game.

In addition to the points by Stephens and Mitch Ford, Brad Ford finished with 10 points while Giles chipped in six points. Stephens collected eight rebounds while the Ford brothers had seven boards apiece. Utica finished with a 40-33 advantage on the glass.

Baldwin finished with a team-high 19 points for the Pioneers. Chris Jeffers and Nevins each added 16 points. Jeffers collected a game-high 11 rebounds for Utica.

Nazareth will look to end its three-game losing streak on Friday evening when the Golden Flyers host Alfred in another critical Empire 8 Conference game.