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MONTCLAIR, N.J. -- Returning to the hardwood for the first time in 19 days, Nazareth's men's basketball team had a disappointing result against Manhattanville Thursday at the Gelston/Paskert Holiday Tournament at Montclair State. The Golden Flyers dug a deep first-half hole against the Valiants and could not recover in a 91-81 defeat.

Now 4-3 overall, the Golden Flyers will play in Friday's consolation game at 2 p.m. against Elizabethtown (3-7). Montclair State defeated Elizabethtown 67-56 in Thursday's first game. Montclair (8-3) and Manhattanville (6-4) will play for the tournament title at 12 p.m.

The Golden Flyers had a tough first half against the Valiants as they made just 13 of 32 shots (40.6 percent) with just one three-pointer, while Manhattanville went 19 for 33 (57.6 percent) with three three-pointers in the first 20 minutes. Manhattanville also had a 21-13 rebounding edge. The end result was a 52-28 halftime deficit from which the Golden Flyers couldn't recover despite improved play in the second half.

Nazareth led briefly early in the game before the Valiants took off, outscoring Nazareth 44-19 over the final 16 minutes of the half to take a commanding advantage.

The Golden Flyers made a desperate attempt to get back in the game in the second half as junior Tyler Stenglein scored 21 of his game-high 31 points, but they couldn't catch up as Manhattanville's JoJo Cobbs scored 13 of his points, including an 8-for-9 showing at the free-throw line.

Nazareth gradually chipped away and closed to within nine points, 70-61, with 7:55 left after a pair of free throws from Jake Burgio and a three-pointer by Cody Green. Manhattanville, however, scored the next four points -- two free throws by Cobbs and a bucket by Brian Haggerty -- to return the lead to double figures. Nazareth also closed to within eight, 89-81, in the closing minute, but eventually ran out of time.

Stenglein, who shot 11-for-25 from the floor and went 9-for-11 from the foul line, was one of four Nazareth players to score in double figures. Burgio had 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds and Green contributed 13. Freshman Stephen Gabel added 11. Manhattanville had five double-digit scorers, led by Cobbs' 23 points. Alex Tuci combined 18 points with nine boards and Haggerty added 14. Dom Arena had 12 and Timmy Quinlan 10.