Box Score

Pittsford, NY – The Elmira College Men's Basketball team struggled offensively as it fell to host Nazareth College, 67-45, Friday evening in Kidera Gymnasium. The win improves the Golden Flyers to 15-9 overall and 7-4 in Empire 8 play, while the loss drops the Soaring Eagles to 6-18 and 3-10.

Nazareth led 10-9 seven minutes into the opening period, but the Golden Flyers closed the final 13 minutes of the half on a 25-7 run. Naz led 35-16 at intermission behind 41 percent shooting from the field and just two turnovers. Meanwhile, the Soaring Eagles converted just 29 percent of its attempts and turned the ball over 12 times. Tyshun Stephens led Nazareth with 13 points in the frame.

Elmira trimmed the deficit to as little as 15 multiple times early in the second half. However, the Flyers controlled play throughout the second stanza extending their lead to as many as 30 before holding on for the 67-45 victory.

Chris Cassidy '14 (Colts Neck, NJ -- Colts Neck) and Kurt Dutcher '14 (Gaylord, MI -- Gaylord) tallied 10 points apiece for Elmira as the only two scorers in double digits. Stephens finished with a game-high 21 points for Nazareth, while Scott Hayford added 12 points and Brad Ford tallied eight points and 10 rebounds.

Nazareth shot 46 percent from the field in the contest, while EC hit on 33 percent of its attempts. After giving the ball away 12 times in the first half Elmira did not turn the ball over once in the second 20 minutes. The Golden Flyers held advantages in points off turnovers (14-2), second chance points (17-4), and points in the paint (24-8).

The Men's Basketball team closes out its season tomorrow when it hosts Utica College at 4:00 p.m. in Speidel Gymnasium. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the Elmira College Athletics department by “liking” us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ElmiraCollegeAthletics) and “following” our Twitter account (http://twitter.com/ECSoaringEagles).