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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Freshman Tyshun Stephens scored 25 points and sophomore center Greg Lothridge combined 10 points with a game-high 11 rebounds and seven blocks Sunday as host Nazareth defeated Utica in an Empire 8 Conference men's basketball game, 66-50.

Nazareth improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the Empire 8 Conference. Utica dropped to 4-2 overall and 0-1 in conference games.

Stephens turned in his second strong game of the weekend after he connected for a career-high 27 points at Elmira Friday. In Sunday's game, he made 8 of 12 shots from the field, including 3 of 5 from three-point range to fuel the Nazareth offense. He hit his first six shots of the game and had 16 points in the first half as the Golden Flyers led 30-26 at the break.

Utica scored the first two baskets of the second half to tie the score at 30-30, but Nazareth embarked on an 11-2 scoring run to stretch the lead to 41-32 with 15 minutes left. The lead continued to swell and grew as large as 18 points, 66-48, with just over a minute to play.

Lothridge's 10 points came on 5 for 7 shooting and included eight points in the second half. Senior Corey McAdam finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals. He raised his career assists total to 671, tying him with Greg Dunne (1995-99) as Nazareth's all-time leader.

Nazareth played well defensively in holding Utica to 36.4 percent shooting (20 for 55), including 1 for 7 from three-point range. Junior James Paterson was the Pioneers' high scorer with 15 points. Patrick Goodman added eight points and nine rebounds.

The Golden Flyers are off until Dec. 29-30 when they host a tournament with Johns Hopkins, Pitt.-Bradford and Albright College. Nazareth plays Albright at 8 p.m. on Dec. 29. Consolation and championship games are Dec. 30 at 5 and 7 p.m. respectively.