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ROCHESTER, NY -- Junior Cody Green sparked a second half run with three 3-pointers in a span of less than three minutes as the Nazareth College men's basketball team opened up a double digit lead and held on for a 78-70 victory over Hartwick College Friday night at Kidera Gymnasium in the Empire 8 Conference opener for both teams.
Both Nazareth (6-3 overall, 1-0 E8) and Hartwick (4-6, 0-1) shot well in the opening half and the Hawks made a late layup to knot the score at 32-32 after the first 20 minutes of action.
In the second half, senior Chris Jones made a pair of early baskets to give the Golden Flyers a four point lead and fellow senior Jake Burgio scored inside to push the lead to six points just two minutes into the half.
Hartwick rallied to tie the game at 38-38 causing Nazareth to call a quick time out. Green was inserted into the game at the time out and hit his first 3-pointer to spark the rally after an offensive rebound by Jones.
Burgio increased the lead with a pair of free throws and after another Jones rebound, Green nailed another 3-pointer on the fast break to open up an eight-point lead for the Golden Flyers.
The teams traded baskets on the next two possessions before Green hit his third 3-pointer to make it an 11-point game as Nazareth took a 51-40 lead.
Green made his fourth 3-pointer of the half a minute later and freshman Zach Stenglein connected on a 3-pointer as Nazareth opened a 14-point lead at 61-47.
Jones made a pair of free throws and connected on a jumper with six minutes remaining to give the Golden Flyers a 16-point lead at 69-53 but Hartwick chipped away at the lead with a 10-0 run as the Hawks cut the lead to six points with 1:56 left.
Hartwick cut the lead to five points three different times in the closing minutes but each time Nazareth connected on free throws to keep its lead. Senior Daniel Jacob hit a pair of free throws before fellow senior Brendan Wind hit two and Green capped the victory with his two free throws with 19 seconds left.
Jones finished with a double-double as he scored a team-leading 15 points and had 11 rebounds. Green scored 14 points and Burgio added 10. Wind finished with seven points, seven rebounds and 10 assists.
The Golden Flyers continue Empire 8 play Saturday at Houghton with a 4 p.m. game.
