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HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Host Houghton seized the lead for good midway through the second half Tuesday and the Highlanders held on for a stunning 65-60 men's basketball victory over Nazareth at Houghton's Nielsen Center.

The game was the Empire 8 Conference opener for the Golden Flyers, who dropped to 4-6 overall. Houghton improved to 5-6 overall and 1-2 in conference games. Nazareth plays two conference home games this weekend – Hartwick Friday at 8 p.m. and Stevens Saturday at 4.

Tuesday's game marked the return to the lineup of junior captain Mitch Ford, who missed the last five games with a knee injury. The Golden Flyers, however, played without sophomore Josh Gillard, who also has a sore knee. Ford played 16 minutes and scored five points. Junior Maurice Mills scored a game-high 27 points and grabbed 20 rebounds for the Golden Flyers and junior Nick Nadeau added 17 points. The Golden Flyers shot the ball poorly all night, making just 33.3 percent of their field goal attempts (19-for-57) and went 1 for 13 from three-point range.

Houghton led by as many as 11 points, 52-41, following two free throws by Brennan Campbell with 8:10 left. Nazareth staged a furious comeback and closed to within two, 52-50, following two free throws by Nadeau with 5:36 to play. Houghton's John Nelson answered with a three-pointer on the Highlanders' nex possession to extend the lead to five, 55-50, and Nazareth couldn't recover. Nazareth's only three-pointer of the game came from Nadeau with :09 left to cut the deficit to three, 63-60, but Houghton's Brandon Camacho knocked down two foul shots with 8.4 seconds left to seal the win.

The first half was high on energy but short on execution for the Golden Flyers, who trailed 28-25 despite 16 points from Mills. Nazareth made just 8 of 28 field goal attempts in the first 20 minutes and went 0 for 6 from three-point range. The Golden Flyers also committed 12 turnovers.

Mills scored 10 of Nazareth's first 12 points as the Golden Flyers led 12-9. He also scored late in the half to put Nazareth ahead 23-20, but Houghton responded with late three-pointers by Phil Pellegrino and Brandon Camacho to go up 28-23 with :40 left in the half. Nazareth had the final possession of the half and Nick Nadeau pulled up for a short jumper as time expired to make it 28-25.

Phil Pellegrino was Houghton's high scorer with 13 points. Camacho added 12 and Jonathan Stowe contributed 11 to go with 16 rebounds. Houghton went 23 for 62 from the field (37.1 percent) and 8 for 24 from three-point range.