Updated stats
CAZENOVIA, N.Y. -- Junior
Stephen Gabel erupted for a career-high 31 points and sophomore
Jonathan Park hauled down 21 rebounds Tuesday as visiting Nazareth pulled away in the second half for a 91-72 men's basketball victory over Cazenovia.
The Golden Flyers outscored the Wildcats 50-36 over the final 20 minutes to break open a close game and to improve to 8-3 overall following the non-conference triumph. Cazenovia is 2-8 overall. The Golden Flyers open their Empire 8 Conference schedule this weekend with a home game Friday against Houghton at 5:30 p.m. Nazareth visits Alfred Saturday at 2.
Gabel made all seven of his field goal attempts in the second half and scored 17 of his points as Nazareth opened a double-digit advantage in the first two minutes of the half and were never seriously challenged thereafter. Overall, Gabel went 12-for-16 from he field with one three-pointer and made all six of his free throws. She also grabbed nine rebounds and had two assists.
Gabel was one of four Nazareth players to produce double-digit point totals. Sophomore
Zach Stenglein combined 17 points with five rebounds, three assists and four steals. Park had 14 points and four blocks in addition to his 21 rebounds and senior
Cody Green scored 11.
The game was close in the first half with the Golden Flyers using an 8-1 scoring run over the final three minutes of play to turn a two-point deficit into a 41-36 lead at the break. Park had two baskets and Gabel and
Kevin Underwood also scored to lead the charge.
Gabel scored on Nazareth's first three possessions of the second half to enable Nazareth's lead to reach double figures at 47-36. The lead continued to grow with Stenglein adding 12 of his points and Park eight.
Isaac Nelson contributed four assists.
Nazareth shot 42.7 percent from the field overall with a season-high 38 field goals in 89 attempts. Nazareth also enjoyed a whopping 63-34 rebounding advantage with Underwood equaling a career-high with 10. Cazenovia shot 40.8 percent overall (29-for-71) and was led led by Thomas Jones' 23 points.