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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Host Nazareth outscored Utica 45-27 in the second half Friday to pull away for a 79-63 men's basketball victory over the Pioneers on Mike Daley Court at the Kidera Gymnasium.

The victory was the 10th straight for the Golden Flyers, who improved to 19-4 overall and 11-1 in the Empire 8. Utica dropped to 17-5 and 8-3. The win also enabled Nazareth to claim sole possession of first place in the conference standings since St. John Fisher lost to Sage. The Golden Flyers host Sage Saturday at 2 p.m. while Utica visits Fisher.

Friday's game featured more scoring balance for the Golden Flyers, who had five double-digit scorers, led by Zach Stenglein, who combined game highs in points (22) and assists (9) to go with five steals and just two turnovers. Stephen Gabel added 19 points with four three-pointers and Jonathan Park had 13 points and 14 rebounds. Cody Green had 12 and Kevin Underwood 11.

Nazareth trailed 36-34 at the half and was down by as many as seven points early in the second half. The Golden Flyers still trailed by one, 49-48, before a basket by Underwood with 14:10 left touched off a 12-point scoring run that ended with Nazareth in control at 60-49 with 10:37 left. Stenglein had a three-pointer and two free throws during the run and Park converted a three-point play.

Stenglein hit another three-pointer with 3:45 to go and Park made consecutive field goals to boost the lead to double digits again. Stenglein and Isaac Nelson each made two free throws in the final minute.

Stenglein's stat line also included an 11-for-11 evening at the free throw line and Underwood also passed for five assists.

Nazareth went 25-for-61 from the field overall (41 percent), including 13 for 27 (48.1 percent) in the second half. The victory was Nazareth's second of the season over the Pioneers, who got 17 points each from Darius Hopkins and Kimedrick Murphy.