Box Score
ROCHESTER, NY – The Nazareth men's basketball squad saw its 11-game win streak snapped on Saturday as the Golden Flyers fell 77-76 to East Avenue rival St. John Fisher in the second round of the Battle of the Beaks. With the loss, Nazareth (18-7 overall, 14-2) is locked into the No. 2 seed for next week's Empire 8 Championships. The Golden Flyers earn a bye to the Empire 8 Semifinals and will host the winner of No. 3 St. John Fisher (17-8, 13-3) and No. 6 Houghton (7-18 overall, 5-11 E8).
 
Logan Blankenberg led Nazareth with 23 points on 6-for-11 from the floor, while Jaylen Savage poured in 20 points on 7-for-13.
 
Jordan Haggard also had a solid outing with 16 points on 6-for-12, including 3-for-6 from 3-point land.
 
The Golden Flyers got pounded on the boards for the game, as Fisher had a 44-19 advantage.
 
In the first, Nazareth took a brief lead at 19-18 following a Haggard 3-pointer with 11:21 to play. Fisher took the lead shortly after and held that into the halftime break with a 40-32 advantage.

The Cardinals led by as many as 11 before Nazareth clawed to within 56-55 with 8:31 on the clock.

Fisher maintained its lead until Haggard drilled a 3-pointer to briefly put the visitors up 72-71 with under two minutes. The lead was short-lived, as on the next possession Fisher drilled a 3-pointer of its own to keep the lead for good.
 
Trailing 77-74, Blankenberg came up empty on a game-tying 3-pointer attempt. 
 
Tyler Putney had 11 points and three rebounds in the loss. 
 
Empire 8 Championships Info

2023-24 Empire 8 Men's Basketball Championship Tournament Participants 
No. 1 – Utica (15-1 E8, 22-3 Overall)
No. 2 – Nazareth (14-2, E8, 18-7 Overall)
No. 3 – St. John Fisher (13-3 E8, 17-8 Overall)
No. 4 – Keuka (9-7 E8, 11-12 Overall)
No. 5 – Alfred (8-8 E8, 11-14 Overall)
No. 6 – Houghton (5-11 E8, 7-18 Overall)

2023-24 Empire 8 Men's Basketball Championship Schedule

Tuesday, February 20 – First Round (at Higher Seed)
No. 6 Houghton at No. 3 St. John Fisher – 6 p.m.
No. 5 Alfred at No. 4 Keuka – 7 p.m.

Thursday, February 22 – Semifinals (at Higher Seed)
Winner of Keuka/Alfred vs. No. 1 Utica - 7 p.m.
Winner of St. John Fisher/Houghton at No. 2 Nazareth – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 24 - Championship Final (at Highest Remaining Seed)
Winner of Semifinal No. 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal No. 2 - TBA