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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Sophomore Maurice Mills scored a career-high 29 points and senior Brad Ford combined 24 points with a game-high 14 rebounds for host Nazareth Saturday as the Golden Flyers defeated Hartwick in an Empire 8 Conference men's basketball game, 86-76, at the Kidera Gymnasium.

The victory enabled the Golden Flyers to salvage a weekend split of conference home games. Nazareth rebounded from an overtime loss to Stevens on Friday. Nazareth evened its conference record at 2-2 and improved to 8-5 overall. Hartwick lost for the first time in conference play and is 3-1 in the Empire 8 and 7-6 overall.

In addition to Mills and Brad Ford, sophomore Mitch Ford added 13 points with six rebounds and freshman Dan Morse, playing in place of the ailing Jack Giles, scored a career-high 12 points.

Saturday's game was tied at halftime 29-29, but the Golden Flyers led for most of the second half. Back-to-back baskets by Hartwick's Joey Lufkin and Marc Summy put the Hawks in front, 62-61, with 6:43 to play, but the Golden Flyers answered by scoring six straight points to regain the lead for good at 67-62. First Morse connected on a three-point shot for his only field goal of the game, Mitch Ford hit a layup and Morse added a free throw to complete the mini surge.

Nazareth expanded its lead by making free throws. The Golden Flyers went 14 for 19 from the line over the final four minutes. Morse went 9 for 12 from the line in the game, while Brad Ford went 7-for-7 and Mills 7-for-10.

It was a pair of free throws by Morse with 1:11 to go that gave Nazareth its largest lead at 81-66. Hartwick closed to within eight, 82-74, on a pair of free throws by Fernando Vazquez with :17 left, but two more free throws by Morse and a basket-jarring dunk by Mills before the final horn enabled the Golden Flyers to close it out.

Nazareth went 28 for 58 from the field (48.3 percent) and 27 for 37 from the free throw line (73 percent). Nazareth also enjoyed a 44-27 rebounding advantage.

Senior Jared Suderley led Haretwick with 19 points. Lufkin, Kyle Bradley and Summy each scored 14.

Nazareth is home again next weekend for weekend conference games against Utica Friday and Ithaca Saturday.