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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Visiting Stevens rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit Friday by outscoring Nazareth 44-34 in the second half to take an 80-77 men's basketball victory over the Golden Flyers in Empire 8 Conference action.

The victory was the fourth in a row for the Ducks, who improved to 12-3 overall and 6-1 in the Empire 8. Nazareth dropped to 8-6 overall and 2-3 in conference games. Both teams return to action Saturday. Nazareth hosts Hartwick at 4 p.m., while Stevens visits St. John Fisher.

Nazareth actually led by as many as 11 points, 42-31, in the first half when sophomore Daniel Jacob hit a three-pointer with 2:50 to play. Stevens responded as Evan Klimchak, who finished with a game-high 22 points, hit a three-pointer and Colin McKenna added a basket as the Ducks crept within seven, 43-36, before halftime.

Stevens stayed close in the second half and finally tied the score at 53-53 on a basket by McKenna (12 points, six rebounds) with 10:56 to go. Nazareth regained control and went up by as many as six points, 65-59, with as little as 5:33 left on a jumper by Brendan Wind. Klimchak and Patrick Barron followed with three-point baskets on consecutive possessions and Klimchak scored again with 3:23 to go to put Stevens up 69-68.

The Ducks stayed in front the rest of the way and were aided by solid foul shooting down the stretch. Thomas Cook sank three free throws and Chris Cosgrove hit two more to preserve the lead.

Nazareth shot the ball well in the first half and went ahead behind the scoring of sophomore Jake Burgio, who scored all 12 of his points in the first half, and Wind, who added 11 of his 15. Tyler Stenglein helped Nazareth stay competitive in the second half by scoring 13 of his team-high 20 points. Freshman Cody Green also reached double digits in points with 14. He made four three-pointers.

Burgio contributed nine rebounds in addition to his 12 points and Wind passed for six assists. In addition to Klimchak's 22 points, McKenna added 12 and Barron 11.