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ALFRED, N.Y. -- Junior Jack Giles scored a career-high 21 points with six three-point baskets Friday as Nazareth won its third straight men's basketball game with an 85-76 victory over host Alfred.

The victory avenged an earlier defeat and enabled the Golden Flyers to improve to 14-8 overall and 6-5 in the Empire 8 Conference. Nazareth is a half game ahead of Utica for fourth place in the conference standings. The Golden Flyers are idle Saturday and then host St. John Fisher Tuesday at 8 p.m. Alfred defeated Nazareth, 80-76, at Nazareth on Jan. 25.

Nazareth built a 12-point lead by halftime Friday as junior Brad Ford scored 12 of his 16 points and senior Tyshun Stephens scored 11 of his 19. The Golden Flyers never trailed after that, but Alfred used a late surge to close to within two points, 72-70, on a free throw by Jason Ruback with 3:43 left.

Nazareth pulled away by scoring the next seven points -- two free throws by Stephens, a three-pointer by Giles and a basket by Mitch Ford -- to push the lead to 79-70. Giles hit his sixth three-pointer of the game with 1:37 to go to keep the Golden Flyers in control and he sank a pair of free throws with :44 left. Stephens added another free throw in the final minute.

Stephens' 19 points included a 10-for-14 effort from the free throw line. He also had seven assists against just one turnover. Freshman Maurice Mills contributed 13 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Brad Ford also had a game-high eight rebounds.

Nazareth shot a season-best 57.1 percent (28-for-49) from the field, including 54.2 percent (13-for-24) from three-point range. Alfred also had four double-digit scorers, led by Sean Curran's game-high 22 points.