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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Host Nazareth opened its Empire 8 Conference schedule for men's basketball in successful fashion Friday as the Golden Flyers overwhelmed Houghton, 97-69, in the E8 opener for both teams.

Nazareth improved to 9-3 overall and 1-0 in the E8. Houghton is 2-9 and 0-1. The Golden Flyers play again Saturday at Alfred at 2 p.m. Houghton hosts St. John Fisher at 2.

Four Nazareth players recorded double-digit point totals, led by sophomore Zach Stenglein, who produced 21 points, five assists and two steals. Senior Cody Green totaled 20 points with four three pointers. Sophomore Jonathan Park added 18 points, seven rebounds and three steals and junior Stephen Gabel posted a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Houghton was able to keep the score close in the first five minutes or so and led 15-14 following a basket by Kyle Donk with 14:12 to go in the first half. Nazareth then rattled off nine straight points and surged from there. Cody Green book-ended the run with a pair of three-point shots and Stenglein sank three free throws in between.

Park scored two of his 14 first-half points with 4:39 to go as Nazareth's lead reached 20 points, 49-29. The Golden Flyers then settled for a 56-38 lead at the break with Stenglein scoring 15 of his points and Green 13.

The Highlanders never seriously challenged in the second half as Nazareth continued to pad its lead. Gabel scored 13 of his points in the final 20 minutes and a basket by Logan Blankenberg with 2:00 to go ballooned the lead to a game-high 36 points at 95-59.

Nazareth shot a blistering 55.1 percent from the field in the game overall (38-for-69) and 8-for-25 (32 percent) from three-point range. Billy McCrae, a freshman for Houghton, led the Highlanders with 18 points and seven rebounds.