Men’s Basketball Dominates Medgar Evers 89-52 in Season Opener

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 Burnettconnected 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 Hathornand 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 

Men’s Basketball Takes Mike Daley Memorial Tournament over Marywood, 98-86

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (nazathletics.com) – Nazareth Men’s Basketball (2-0) defeated Marywood (1-1), 98-86, Saturday afternoon inside Kidera Gymnasium to take the Mike Daley Memorial Tournament title.

Jaylen Savage earned the tournament’s Most Valuable player honor while Merritt Hollyand Luke Insley were also named to the All-Tournament Team. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Nazareth opened strong as Solomon McFarlane converted a three-point play for an early 3-0 lead.
• The Golden Flyers used a 10-3 stretch behind baskets from Jaylen Savage and Luke Insley to go up 17-8.
• A steal and fast-break layup from Savage, followed by a Zachary McFarland three, stretched the margin to 22-8 midway through the first half.
• Merritt Holly controlled the paint with putbacks as Nazareth surged ahead 35-17 before Savage closed the half with free throws to make it 51–35 at the break.
• Tyler Putney opened the second half with a three and Savage followed with two quick layups to push the lead to 60-40.
• Marywood trimmed the margin to 68-54 until the Golden Flyers answered with an 8-3 spurt capped by a Savage jumper for a 75-57 edge.
• Putney hit another three to keep the Flyers in control at 86-68 before Holly and Insley helped close out the 98-86 victory from the charity stripe.

GAME NOTES

• Jaylen Savage led the Golden Flyers with 27 points, going 11 of 12 from the field and 5 for 6 from the free throw line. 
• Merritt Holly recorded his first double-double of the season with 16 points amd 12 rebounds, his seventh career double-double
• Tyler Putney posted 21 points with five made three-point baskets. 
• Zachary McFarland chipped in 11 points in the win, going 3 of 4 from the field and 4 for 5 from the charity stripe. 
• Luke Insley added 10 points and a team-best seven assists over Marywood 
• Solomon McFarlane earned his first double-digit performance of the year on 10 points along with three rebounds and two steals. 

UP NEXT 
Nazareth continues its season-opening homestand against RIT, Tuesday, Nov. 11. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m. inside Kidera Gymnasium. 

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