PITTSFORD, N.Y. - Host Nazareth College hit 63% outside the arc in the first half and rode that surge to an 82-64 victory over the University of Rochestert at Kidera Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
The Golden Flyers were 10 of 16 in the first half, 13 of 21 (62%) for the game. Jason Corletta sank five treys enroute to a game-high 24 points. Tyshun Stephens hit four, including a banked three-pointer from midcourt at the halftime buzzer to give Nazareth a 40-29 lead. Stephens finished with 14 points as did Phil Scaffidi. Brad Ford had 15 points and 10 boards.
John DiBartolomeo scored 15 points, handed out nine assists, and made three steals for Rochester.
Chris Dende scored 14 points, 12 coming on four second-half three-pointers.
Nate Vernon scored 12 points.
Rochester hit 46% from the floor in the game, 50% in the second half (14 of 28). The Yellowjackets made 7 of 21 shots outside the arc (33%).
In the first 20 minutes, Nazareth built several doubled-digit leads that Rochester methodically pursued. The Yellowjackets used a mini 6-0 run, capped by Dan Shapiro's steal and layup to get within 24-16. With a pair of threes and a baseline hook, Nazareth opened the lead back out to 13, 34-21.
Marcus Williams hit a hook shot. Vernon sank a trey from the right of the key, and
Tyler Seidman hit a deep three from the top of the key. The Yellowjackets got within five, 34-29, with 1:24 left in the half. Corletta sank a trey for an eight-point Naz lead. Both teams missed chances, and the Yellowjackets still had a chance to get it back down to five before the break.
DiBartolomeo's three-point shot from the top of the key was halfway down, then bounced out. The rebound came to Stephens in the dying seconds. He reached midcourt and let fly. The ball hit the backboard and kicked straight through the net, delighting the crowd and restoring the double figure deficit.
