Box |
Updated stats
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Nazareth surged to an insurmountable 31-point halftime lead Friday and cruised to its first men’s basketball victory of the season, 95-67, over Marietta College in the first round of the Coles Classic hosted by Buffalo State. The victory was also the first under the direction of first-year head coach Kevin Broderick.
Nazareth will play again in Saturday’s championship game at 7 p.m. against the Buffalo State. The Bengals defeated Pitt-Bradford, 81-69, in Friday's nightcap.
Five players scored in double figures for the Golden Flyers, who evened their overall record at 1-1. Marietta dropped to 1-1 and will play in Saturday’s consolation game at 5 p.m.
Sophomore Jason Corletta matched a career-high with 21 points on 8 for 16 shooting with five three-pointers. Senior Corey McAdam finished with 19 points and seven assists. Sophomore Phil Scaffidi had 15 points, freshman Dan Waldbillig 14 points and 10 rebounds and freshman Tyshun Stephens had 13. Nazareth shot 52.3 percent for the game (34 for 65) and 45.5 percent from three-point range (10 for 22).
The Golden Flyers bolted to a 16-6 advantage in the first five minutes and their lead continued to grow in the first half. It swelled to 24 points, 41-17, on a basket and a three-pointer by Corletta and a three-pointer by J.T. Miranda.
The lead got as large as 33 points late in the first half, before Nazareth settled for a 54-23 advantage at the break. Nazareth shot a blistering 57.1 percent (20 for 35) in the first 20 minutes. The scoring was evenly dispersed with Waldbillig scoring 10 and three others – Corletta, McAdam and Stephens – adding nine. Nazareth also had a 23-15 rebounding advantage with Waldbillig grabbing five.
Nazareth maintained its lead in the second half with 35 points the largest margin. Kevin Knab was Marietta's high scorer with 17 points. Conner Kilpatrick had 13.
Nazareth is making its eighth appearance in the Coles Classic and will try to win the championship for the second time. The Golden Flyers last won the title in 2001.