ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Sophomore Jordan Haggard delivered a career-high 25 points for host Nazareth Monday as the Golden Flyers outscored Utica, 72-63 in Empire 8 men's basketball action.

Nazareth improved to 7-2 overall, including a 7-1 mark in the Empire 8. Utica is 4-2 both overall and in the E8.

Haggard's 25 points came on 9-for-14 shooting, including 5-for-8 from three-point range. He also grabbed five rebounds. Stephen Gabel scored 17 points, including 12 in the second half and Jonathan Park added 10 points and six rebounds. Brendan Broderick had nine points on three three-pointers.

The game was close throughout the first half, but Gabel canned a short jumper on Nazareth's final possession of the half as the Golden Flyers took a 30-28 lead. Haggard then scored the first seven points of the second half to spearhead a 22-5 scoring run over the first six minutes and Nazareth's lead ballooned to 19 points, 52-33. Gabel hit a pair of three-pointers during the run and Logan Blankenberg also knocked down a long-distance shot.

Utica battled back to trim the lead to nine points, 64-55, with 5:16 to go, but Zach Stenglein's only field goal of the game -- a three-pointer -- with 4:16 left extended the lead back to double digits.

Nazareth shot 51.9% (14-for-27) in the second half, including 7-for-12 from three-point range. Gabel also passed for eight assists and Park had three blocks. Senior Jon Werner contributed some significant minutes with Park in foul trouble as he grabbed six rebounds.

Nazareth is idle until March 29 when the Golden Flyers host Alfred in the final regular-season home game at 7 p.m.