Box Score Box | Updated stats
ALFRED, N.Y. -- Host Alfred built a 45-41 halftime lead Wednesday and never trailed in the second half as the Saxons went on to take a 99-87 men's basketball victory over Nazareth in an Empire 8 Conference game. The game was originally scheduled to be played Tuesday but was postponed due to inclement weather.

Nazareth dropped to 7-4 overall and 1-1 in E8 action. Alfred improved to 8-2 overall and 1-0 in conference games.

Four Nazareth players scored in double figures, led by senior Brad Ford, who combined 17 points with 11 rebounds. Senior Jack Giles added 16 points and sophomores Mitch Ford and Maurice Mills each scored 15.

The game was close for most of the first half and was tied at 31-31 following a basket by Brad Ford with 4:16 to go in the first half. A three-pointer by Alfred's Mike Snyder triggered a 14-10 scoring run to close out the first half and put the Saxons in front for good, 45-41, at the break.

Nazareth stayed close for the first five minutes of the second half, but another three-point basket by Snyder touched off a 10-point scoring spree that pushed Alfred's lead into double digits at 64-52 with 14 minutes left.

Snyder went 5-for-5 from tthe field for the Saxons and finished with 16 points. His three-pointer with 5:40 to go boosted Alfred's lead to 85-73. Nazareth rallied with a 12-2 scoring run to draw within two, 87-85, following a basket by freshman Tomer Nesher with 2:50 to go. The Saxons, however, pulled away with a 12-2 scoring run to gain the victory. Thomas Tsatsis had a basket and a pair of free throws and Dylan Molloy canned a pair of foul shots in the closing seconds as Alfred prevailed.

Alfred made 34 of 70 shots (.486) from the field and made 13 three-pointers to just one for Nazareth. The Golden Flyers went 30 for 63 from the field (.476) and 26 for 31 from the free-throw line (.839).

Nazareth is home this weekend for a pair of Empire 8 Conference games. Nazareth hosts Stevens Friday at 6 p.m. and Hartwick Saturday at 2 p.m.