ROCHESTER, N.Y. (nazathletics.com) - Nazareth Men's Basketball (1-0) opened the 2025-26 season with a 89-52 over Medgar Evers (0-1) in the opening round of the Mike Daley Memorial Tournament Friday night inside Kidera Gymnasium. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Nazareth jumped ahead early after Merritt Holly notched the team's first five points followed by back-to-back layups from Jaylen Savage to make it 9-3 less than four minutes in.
• After Medgar Evers trimmed the margin to 11-8, Savage converted twice in the lane and Holly finished a pair of second-chance baskets to push the lead to double digits at 19-11.
• The Golden Flyers broke the game open midway through the first half with a 15-0 run over a four-minute span, fueled by aggressive defense and transition play. Savage scored eight points during the surge while Luke Insley hit four free throws and Solomon McFarlane buried a three to make it 36-14.
• Nazareth closed the half strong with Dylan Pohl and Insley each adding buckets in the paint to give the Golden Flyers a 44-24 halftime lead.
• In the second half, Holly finished through contact for a three-point play to extend the margin to 48-28. 
• Savage's steal and layup at the 11:40 mark made it 62-37 before Will Burnett connected on back-to-back threes to cap a 9-0 spurt that pushed the advantage to 75-41.
• Nazareth's depth took over in the closing minutes as Pohl, Aiden Hathorn and Abram Wasileski all contributed down the stretch.
• The Golden Flyers finished the night shooting 53 percent from the field and holding Medgar Evers to just 34 percent while outscoring the visitors 54-14 in the paint and 15-0 on second-chance points.

GAME NOTES 

• Jaylen Savage led the Golden Flyers with 18 points along with five rebounds, two assists and two steals 
• Merritt Holly added 16 points with nine rebounds, going eight-for-ten from the free throw line
• Will Burnett recorded a career-high 14 points with two three-pointers and two rebounds 
• Luke Insley and Josh Harter chipped in a team-best eight assists apiece 

UP NEXT
Nazareth hosts Marywood in the championship round of the Mike Daley Memorial Tournament tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 8. Tip off is slated for 3 p.m. inside Kidera Gymnasium. 

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