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ONEONTA, N.Y. -- Visiting Nazareth outscored Hartwick 7-5 in the second half Saturday, but the Hawks were able to hold on for a 14-13 men's lacrosse victory over the Golden Flyers in a big Empire 8 Conference game.

The disappointing defeat, despite five goals and one assist from Anthony Basile, dropped the Golden Flyers to 3-7 overall and 1-2 in E8 games. Hartwick remained unbeaten in conference play at 3-0 and improved to 6-1 overall.

The Golden Flyers fell behind early -- Hartwick had leads of 5-1 and 7-2 -- and never fully recovered. Nazareth closed within 9-6 by halftime and it was 11-10 heading into the fourth quarter. Nazareth's Jack Crowley scored his fourth goal of the game by converting an extra-man pass from Basile with 3:37 left to bring the Golden Flyers to within 14-13. Tim Vinton won the ensuing face-off for Nazareth and the Golden Flyers had chances to tie the score, but were turned aside as goalie C.J. Alesandrini stopped a shot by Basile with 2:54 to go.

Nazareth got the ball back with :30 left and Hartwick was penalized with an illegal body check with :28 to go. Subsequent shots by Drew NcNerney and Jon Roth sailed high and a last-ditch chance by McNerney in the closing seconds was blocked before the final horn sounded.

Hartwick scored the first four goals of the game and Nazareth was behind 7-4 after one quarter despite two goals by Basile and one each for Crowley and Kevin Hussey. Each team scored twice in the second quarter with Roth and Crowley converting for Nazareth.

Nazareth seemed to be gaining momentum in scoring four times in the third quarter with Basile's goal with 2:27 left off a pass from McNerney bringing the score to 11-10.

Hartwick scored twice within a 52-second span early in the fourth quarter to regain a three-goal advantage at 13-10. Goals by Jon Lippert and Basile made it 13-12. Hartwick's Kainen Francis-Thompson scored his third goal of the game with 5:06 left to make it 14-12.

Nazareth had statistical advantages in shots (49-44), ground balls (41-35) and face-off wins (22-9), but the Golden Flyers also committed 26 turnovers and converted just one of seven extra-man chances. Tim Vinton won 16 of 20 face-offs and scooped up 11 ground balls. Goalie Eric Almquist had 15 saves. In addition to Basile's five goals, Crowley had four and McNerney had six assists.

Nazareth is home again Wednesday for a non-league game against Ithaca at 4 p.m.