ALBANY, N.Y. -- Senior Stephen Gabel scored a game-high 30 points, one point shy of his career best, as Nazareth grinded out an 87-84 men's basketball victory over Russell Sage Friday in double overtime.

The Empire 8 Conference victory boosted Nazareth's overall record to 6-2 and its conference mark to 5-1. The Gators are 2-2 and 2-2. Gabel was one of four Nazareth players to score in double figures. Zach Stenglein had 20 points with nine rebounds and three assists. Kevin Underwood scored 13 points and Jonathan Park had 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Nazareth trailed for most of the game and was down by as many as 13 points, 49-36, early in the second half. The Golden Flyers came back behind the scoring of Underwood, who scored all 13 of his points in the second half. Nazareth even took a short-lived lead late in the half, but Sage was up by three, 73-70, following two free throws with :18 left. Sophomore Logan Blankenberg then saved the day for the Golden Flyers by sinking a three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the score and force overtime.

Nazareth never led in the first overtime and needed a three-pointer by Gabel with :16 left to force the game to a second extra five-minute period. In the second overtime, Nazareth got early baskets from Park and Gabel, then Blankenberg struck again with another three-pointer to put the Golden Flyers up by four, 86-82. Sage closed to within two before Stenglein sank a free throws with :30 left to provide the three-point victory margin.

Nazareth went 32-for-73 (43.8%) from the field with six three-pointers, while Sage was 34-for-78 (43.6%) with three three-pointers.

Nazareth plays again Monday at home against Utica at 7 p.m.