BOXSCORE | CUMULATIVE STATS
ALFRED, N.Y. -- Nazareth surged to a 20-6 lead in the first nine minutes of the first half and never looked back as the visiting Golden Flyers defeated Alfred 88-73 in an Empire 8 Conference men's basketball game. Nazareth received a game-high 26 points from senior Joe Canori while junior Ryan McAdam added 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

With the victory, Nazareth improves to 16-5 overall and 9-3 in the Empire 8. Alfred falls to 2-19 overall and 1-11 in conference play with the loss.

Alfred took its only lead of the game following a steal by Sean D'Auria and a basket by Carl Embury to take a 6-4 advantage 3:38 into the game. The Golden Flyers responded by scoring the next 16 points of the game over the next five minutes. During the scoring run, Canori connected on two two-point jumpers, a layup, and two free throws. McAdam and sophomore Rayvon Higdon also each added a jumper while junior Jeff DeHimer connected on two free throws during the run.

Alfred cut its deficit to 14 points, 36-22 with 4:15 left in the first half, but Nazareth surged again to extend its lead to 20 points at halftime. The Golden Flyers scored the first five points of the second half to take a 52-27 advantage after Canori hit another two-point jumper. Canori also connected on a three-pointer to give Nazareth a game-high 31-point lead over the Saxons, 63-32, with 14:34 left in the game.

Senior Tyler Smith added 14 points while sophomore Corey McAdam added six points and six assists to the Golden Flyers' offense. The Saxons had four players in double-digits led by James Simermeyer with 12 points. Ron Smith and Embury each added 11 points while Mike Stopera recorded 10 points for Alfred.

Nazareth held a 51-37 advantage in rebounds and forced the Saxons into making 22 turnovers as opposed to the Golden Flyers' 16. Canori's 26 points leaves him just 22 points shy of the Golden Flyers' all-time scoring record with 1,784 points. Chris Pegan (1,805) has held the Nazareth scoring record since 1998.

Nazareth plays its final two home games of the regular season this weekend against Utica and Hartwick. The Golden Flyers tip-off against Utica at 8 p.m. Friday followed by a 4 p.m. tip-off Saturday against Hartwick (WHTK-AM 1280 / www.whtk.com).