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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- A poor shooting effort -- 19-for-71 (26.8 percent) -- ended up costing the Golden Flyers against Utica in Empire 8 Conference men's basketball action Friday at the Kidera Gymnasium. Despite  23-point effort from Tyler Stenglein, the Golden Flyers lost to the Pioneers, 59-56.

Nazareth dropped to 11-6 overall and 6-2 in the E8, while Utica improved to 10-7 and 5-3. The teams square off again Tuesday at Utica.

Daniel Jacob (8 points) rattled home a 3-pointer with 1:06 left on the clock to bring Nazareth within 57-56. Nazareth then made the necessary defensive stand on the following possession, but Stenglein and Jake Burgio each missed shots in the closing seconds. Utica's Bennito Ayarza rebounded Burgio's missed and sank two free throws with :06 left to seal the win.

Nazareth's shooting woes were evident from the outset as the Golden Flyers went 8-for-39 in the first half (20.5 percent) nd trailed 30-21 at the break.

Stenglein helped spearhead a second-half comeback by scoring 18 of his points, including  pair of free throws with 9:39 left for a 44-42 Nazareth lead. A basket by Jon Werner with 6:38 to go stretched the lead to 49-42 before Utica staged its own comeback.

Hunter Remley's three-pointer tied the score at 49-49 with four minutes left and Ivan Iton followed with two free throws to put the Pioneers back in front to stay.

Nazareth stayed close as Brendan Wind and Stenglein each sank two free throws to set up Jacob's three-point shot.

Iton led Utica with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Carl Taylor scored 11. For Nazareth, Jake Burgio struggled from the floor, making just 2-of-12 shots, but he pulled down a career high 16 rebounds.

Nazareth returns to action Saturday, hosting Sage at 2 p.m.