Albany, NY— Tyler Stenglein scored 16 and four other players scored in double figures to lead Nazareth College to an 80-73 Empire 8 men's basketball victory over The Sage Colleges at Kahl Gym Friday night. The Golden Flyers remain undefeated in the league at 10-0, and are 16-3 overall. The Gators now stand 9-11 overall and 5-6 in league play.

 

Jake Burgio posted a double-double with 11 points and a game high 14 rebounds and Chris Jones and Brendan Wind also scored 11 points each for Nazareth. Jones pulled down nine boards and Wind dished out a game best eight assists for the Golden Flyers, who shot 46% for the night.

 

Sage was led by sophomore guard/forward Anthony Mitchell (Bronx, NY/Salesian), who scored a season and game high 19 points. He was one point shy of tying his career high in points. Sophomore center Joshua Gonzalez (Albany, NY/Canajoharie) recorded his third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Graduate player Frane Larose (Miami, FL/North Miami Beach Senior) added 15 points and junior guard Darius Denmark (Orlando, FL/Evans) scored 11 points. Sophomore forward/center Jason Geronimo (Orlando, FL/Colonial) recorded a team high 11 rebounds, eight on the defensive end. The Gators shot 37% and had a 54-44 rebounding advantage.

 

Nazareth had a 43-37 lead at halftime. Sage opened with a 10-4 lead in the first 3:10, but the guests went on an 13-0 run for a 17-10 lead with 12:42 to play in the first half. A Larose layup with 5:15 left made it 30-30, the sixth tie of the half. But the guests outscored the hosts, 13-7 into the half. Nazareth shot 53% in the first half, and the teams combined for just nine turnovers.

 

Nazareth was up by 14 at 62-48 with 9:53 to play in the seocnd half. The Gators got as close as nine down the stretch, including as late as 77-68 but Naz made three free throws in the final 22 seconds. Denmark's three right before the final buzzer produced the seven point margin, with Nazareth winning 80-73.

 

Sage is back in action for another Empire 8 game vs. St. John Fisher at 5 p.m. at Kahl Gym. Stevens hosts Nazareth Saturday in a league contest at 5 p.m.