Box l Updated Stats
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Senior Mitch Ford went over 1,000 points for his career (1,013) after combinng for team-highs in points (20) and rebounds (9) for Nazareth Friday as the Golden Flyers downed Bluffton College of Ohio, 80-70, in a first-round game at the annual Coles Classic hosted by Buffalo State.

Nazareth remained unbeaten at 3-0 and advanced to Saturday's championship game at 6 p.m. against the winner of Friday's second game between Villa Maria and Buffalo State. Bluffton is 1-1 in will play in Saturday's consolation game at 4 p.m.

Ford went 7 for 17 from the field and 6 for 7 from the foul line to pace the Golden Flyers, who also got a career-high 14 points from junior Denzell Jackson as well as 15 points, four rebounds and three assists from sophomore Tyler Stenglein.  Freshman Brendan Wind came off the bench to score a career-best 13 points, including 5 for 6 from the free-throw line.

Nazareth scored the first 11 points of the game and never trailed. Jackson contributed five of his points in that opening stretch and Stenglein had two of his baskets.

A three-pointer by Nick Nadeau and a basket by Wind enabled Nazareth to gain its largest lead of the half at 17-2 with 13:21 left. Bluffton, however, chipped away and nailed a three-pointer before time expired to close within eight, 39-31, at the half.  Stenglein finished with 11 of his points in the first 20 minutes.

Bluffton's Kevin Christie hit a three-pointer with 14:21 left as the Beavers sliced Nazareth's lead to six points, 47-41. That was as close as it would get, though, as Wind and Ford each sank two free throw to push the lead back to double digits.

The lead reached 19 points, 68-49, with 6:39 left on a tip-in basket by Jackson, who also grabbed five rebounds.

Bluffton got back within 12, 75-63, after a three-point play by Thayne Recker, who led all scorers with 23 points. Wind answered with a three-point play of his own and later sank a pair of free throws in the closing minute to preserve the win.

Nazareth shot 47.4 percent from the field (27 for 57) with three three-pointers. The Golden Flyers went 23 for 28 from the foul line (82.1 percent) and committed just six turnovers.