BOXSCORE | PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
CUMULATIVE STATS
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Nazareth clinched a spot in next weekend's Empire 8 Conference Tournament for men's basketball Friday as the visiting Golden Flyers raced to an early lead and went on to defeat Elmira, 84-57.

Nazareth improved to 18-6 overall and 11-4 in the Empire 8. The Golden Flyers close out their regular-season schedule Saturday at Ithaca at 4 p.m. (WHTK-AM 1280 / www.whtk.com). Nazareth is in a second-place tie with Ithaca in the E8 standings as the Bombers knocked off first-place Stevens, 93-82. St. John Fisher dropped to fourth place after losing to Utica, 76-62.

The E8 playoff picture is still somewhat jumbled. Ithaca can clinch the top seed with a victory over Nazareth Saturday while Fisher needs a victory over Hartwick to clinch the fourth spot. Utica could still make the top four with a victory over Alfred and a Hartwick win over Fisher.

Senior guard Joe Canori led all scorers with 24 points after shooting 6 for 10 from three-point range. Junior Ryan McAdam added 14 points and sophomore Corey McAdam contributed 11 points and 10 assists. Sophomore Rayvon Higdon had 10.

Nazareth led by as many as 22 points in the first half and expanded that advantage to as many as 31 points in the second half. Nazareth went 7 for 10 from three-point range in the first half to settle for a 43-27 lead. Canori scored 14 of his points with three three-point baskets. Ryan McAdam had two long-distance baskets and had eight points.

Nazareth shot 13 for 23 from three-point range in the game (56.5 percent) and had a 48-27 rebounding edge. Senior Tyler Smith was the game's leading rebounder with nine.