Box Score Box | Updated stats
HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Sophomore Maurice Mills matched a career high with 23 points for visiting Nazareth Saturday as the Golden Flyers held off Houghton for a 79-71 men's basketball victory in a non-conference game. Sophomore Steve Soltysik also came off the bench to hit a pair of three-point baskets and finished with a career-best eight points.

The victory, combined with Friday's 66-54 win over Elmira, enabled the Golden Flyers to complete a weekend sweep as they improved to 7-3 overall. Houghton dropped to 3-8 overall.

Mills made 8 of 12 shots from the field and 7 of 10 free throws to amass his 23 points. He also had nine rebounds and three blocks. Mills also scored 23 points in a home-court victory over the University of Rochester in November. Against Houghton, senior Scott Hayford contributed 13 points and sophomore Mitch Ford had 12 points and eight rebounds.

Nazareth got off to a great start by scoring the game's first 12 points and the Golden Flyers held first-half leads of 18-3 and 21-5 before Houghton rallied. Mills scored 13 of his points in the first half, including eight of the Golden Flyers' first 12 points.

The Golden Flyers led 23-9 with 9:21 to play in the half following a basket by Mitch Ford. Houghton, however, closed the half with a 25-16 scoring run to close within five, 39-34, at the break. Brandon Camacho and Matthew Ball steered the Highlanders' comeback as each scored nine points in the first 20 minutes.

In the second half, a basket by Hayford with 13:42 left boosted Nazareth's lead back to nine, 54-45. Ten straight points by Houghton gave the Highlanders their first lead of the game at 55-54. Jordan Scott scored five points during the run, including a three-pointer.

The teams exchanged baskets and the game was tied for the final time at 61-61 on a basket by Ball with 6:01 to go. Nazareth regained the lead for good on back-to-back field goals by Mills. Soltysik followed with a pair of three-point baskets and suddenly Nazareth's lead was back up to 10 points, 71-61, with less than four minutes to play.

Nazareth preserved the lead by sinking free throws down the stretch. Senior Jack Giles went 6-for-6 from the line in the final minute and Soltysik also sank a pair.

Nazareth made 25 of 55 shots(45.5 percent)  from the field, including 6 of 17 (35.3 percent) from three-point range. The Golden Flyers also connected on 23 of 31 free throws (74.2 percent). Nazareth also enjoyed a 40-29 rebounding advantage. Jordan Christensen came off the bench to be Houghton's high scorer with 18 points.

Nazareth returns to action Tuesday with a road game at Alfred at 6 p.m.