ROCHESTER, N.Y. (nazathletics.com) - Nazareth Men's Basketball (4-1) defeated St. Lawrence (3-2), 69-58, Friday night inside Kidera Gymnasium on the first day of the Mark's Pizzeria Crosstown Shootout. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Nazareth raced out to a 14-2 start fueled by three triples from Tyler Putney and one from Solomon McFarlane. 
• Nazareth's defensive pressure created separation early, turning multiple giveaways into transition scores, including back-to-back buckets from Zach McFarland to make it 18-4.
• The Golden Flyers stretched the lead to 21 points at 34-13, highlighted by Putney's fast-break three and Luke Insley's steady facilitation during a seven-assist first half.
• St. Lawrence closed the first half with a small push until Putney drilled another transition three with 42 seconds left to send Nazareth into halftime up 39-26.
• The visitors cut the margin to 43-37 after a 12-4 surge early in the second half before Josh Harter's steal and layup stopped the momentum, allowing Nazareth to rebuild a two-possession cushion.
• Putney answered every Saints run, hitting three second-half threes, including back-to-back daggers at 6:46 and 5:52 that extended the lead to 10, 54-44.
• Merritt Holly closed the night by dominating the glass and scoring twice in the final two minutes while Jaylen Savage added key late free throws and a second-chance finish to seal the 69-58 Nazareth win.

GAME NOTES

• Tyler Putney led the Golden Flyers with a season-high 28 points, going 10 of 16 from the field and 8 for 14 from beyond the arc. Putney's eight made 3-pointers tied the Nazareth single-game record, a total he also hit against Keuka last season, becoming one of five players to share the mark.
• Jaylen Savage netted 14 points against the Saints, his fifth consecutive game in double digits. He added six rebounds, three assists and two steals. 
• Merritt Holly grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds and three steals, his third game this season with double-digit boards. 
• Luke Insley contributed a season-best 11 assists, his first game with double figure helpers. 

UP NEXT 
Nazareth concludes the Mark's Pizzeria Crosstown Shootout against Rochester tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 22. Tip off is slated for 4 p.m. inside Kidera Gymnasium. 

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