ROCHESTER, N.Y. (nazathletics.com) - Nazareth Men's Basketball (4-2) dropped a 87-73 contest to Rochester (5-0), Saturday evening inside Kidera Gymnasium, on the final day of Mark's Pizzeria Crosstown Shootout action. 

Jaylen Savage and Tyler Putney earned Mark's Pizzeria Crosstown Shootout All-Tournament honors for their performances against both St. Lawrence and Rochester. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Nazareth opened strong, scoring the first basket on a Merritt Holly layup and trading early buckets to stay tied at 10 before Rochester used a stretch of three straight makes to push ahead 17-10.
• A brief Golden Flyer surge closed the gap to 27-24 with just over five minutes left in the half, but Rochester pieced together a 13-2 run to extend the deficit to 40-26 at the break.
• Nazareth's offense steadied early in the second half as scoring from Jaylen Savage, Luke Insley and Solomon McFarlane helped the Flyers trim the margin to 48-43 after a 7–0 spurt. 
• Rochester answered immediately, capitalizing on Nazareth turnovers and fast-break chances to push the lead back to double digits, 56-45, despite Savage keeping Nazareth within striking distance with repeated drives to the basket.
• Nazareth made one more push, highlighted by Tyler Putney's layup and fast-break three to come within five, 69-64, but the Flyers couldn't string together stops as Rochester converted at the line and in transition.
• Savage powered the offense late, adding multiple fast-break scores while McFarlane hit two threes, yet the Golden Flyers couldn't close the gap as Rochester closed the game on an 18-9 stretch.

GAME NOTES 

• Jaylen Savage registered his first double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds, his second 20 point performance this fall. Savage added a season-best seven assists to lead the Golden Flyers. 
• Luke Insley recorded a season-high 18 points in the loss, his third game with double digit baskets so far. Insley went 7 of 12 from the field and chipped in two rebounds and two assists. 
• Merritt Holly and Solomon McFarlane rounded out Nazareth's double-digit scorers with 12 and 10 points, respectively. 

UP NEXT 
Nazareth opens up Empire 8 action at Alfred, Saturday, Dec. 6. Tip off is slated for 4 p.m. on Empire 8 Network. 

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