Box l
Updated statsROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth defeated visiting Elmira 77-69 in a men's Empire 8 Conference basketball game on Tuesday evening, which gave Golden Flyers' head coach
Kevin Broderick his 300th career victory. The Golden Flyers had four players finish in double-digits led by junior
Nick Nadeau, who had a game-high 24 points. Classmate
Mitch Ford tallied 18 points, while junior
Maurice Mills and
Jack Mulcahy each scored 11 points apiece.
Tuesday's win is Broderick's his 91st victory at Nazareth, where he holds a 91-56 record for a .619 winning percentage. At Oswego, Broderick had a 209-150 record for a .582 percentage in 13 years of coaching. Broderick has only three seasons with losing records, and his last season with a losing record was in 2000-01.
With the victory, the Golden Flyers improve to 6-9 overall and 2-4 in conference games. Following the loss, the Soaring Eagles fall to 6-9 overall and 4-4 in Empire 8 contests.
Nazareth trailed only once against Elmira, 11-9, 4:18 into the the first half. Junior
Steven Soltysik connected on a three-pointer on the Golden Flyers' next possession to reclaim Nazareth's lead. The Golden Flyers stretched their lead to 17 points, 38-21, with 3:23 to play in the opening period following a pair of free throws by sophomore
Colin McGlynn. The free throws capped a 29-10 scoring run that spanned over 13 minutes. The Golden Flyers extended their lead with consistent three-point shooting. Mulcahy hit two shots from outside the arc, while Nadeau and Morse each connected on one. Elmira scored the final five points of the first half to cut the Nazareth lead to 12 points at the break. In the opening 20 minutes, the Golden Flyers' defense held the Eagles to under 38 percent shooting (9-24) while converting almost 55 percent (13-24) of their shots to build their lead.
The Golden Flyers maintained a multiple-possession lead throughout the second half. The closest Elmira reached was 50-46, with 13:11 to play in regulation. Within the next four minutes, however, Nazareth reclaimed an 11-point lead. Nadeau tallied four consecutive points on a three-pointer and free throw to start the scoring run. Mulcahy and Mills followed with a shot from outside the arc and layup, respectively.
In the closing minutes, Soaring Eagles cut their deficit was 66-61 with 2:30 to play in regulation. After the three-pointer by Neil Randolph brought Elmira within five points, Ford responded with a layup on Nazareth's next possession, which was followed by a pair of free throws and a three-point bucket by Nadeau.
In the final minute, the Eagles crawled back to within six points, 73-67, following a three by Oladapo Badmos, but the Golden Flyers secured the victory with a layup by Mills and a free throw apiece by Mills and Nadeau.
Three-point shooting was significant for Nazareth, who connected on 60 percent (12-20) of its shots from outside the arc. Nadeau finished 6-9 on three-point attempts while Mulcahy was 3-6, Soltysik was 2-2, and
Dan Morse was 1-1. Mills' game-high 17 rebounds, which included six offensive boards, also provided the Golden Flyers with extra possessions. Nazareth recorded a 35-29 advantage on the glass.
Randolph and Badmos combined for 42 of the Soaring Eagles' points, as they amassed 23 and 19 points, respectively.
The Golden Flyers are in action again on January 30th when Nazareth hosts St. John Fisher in another Empire 8 contest.