ROCHESTER, NY – The Nazareth University Men's Basketball team led by as many as 11 points in the second half, but Utica University battled back to force overtime and posted a 77-75 victory Tuesday night in Empire 8 action in Kidera Gymnasium.

Junior Jack Broderick scored a pair of early baskets early in the second period as Nazareth (7-6 overall, 4-1 Empire 8) took a double-digit lead at 43-33.

A jumper by sophomore Jaylen Savage gave the Golden Flyers an 11-point edge with 16:05 to play but Utica (10-2, 3-0 Empire 8) battled back to chip away at the lead.

The Pioneers tied the game at 54-54 with 8:56 remaining and the lead went back-and-forth several times down the stretch.

A basket by Broderick with less than a minute remaining gave Nazareth a one-point lead at 68-67 and a free throw by junior Luke Insley pushed the lead to two with 27 seconds left.

Utica hit a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left to tie the game and a late jumper was off the mark for Insley sending the game into overtime.

After Utica scored first in the extra period, Nazareth battled back to tie the game three times before a jumper gave the Pioneers the 77-75 lead with 23 seconds left. Utica missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw situation with seven seconds left but a last second 3-pointer was off the mark for the Golden Flyers as the game ended.

Broderick led all scorers with 23 points. Insley added 13 points and Savage ended up with 12 points for Nazareth.