Men’s Basketball Outlasts Elmira
Rochester, N.Y. – Nazareth men’s basketball (10-4, 5-0) managed to squeeze out a hard-fought victory over the Elmira Soaring Eagles (6-8, 1-4) on Friday by a score of 84-78, remaining undefeated in conference play. They were met with heavy resistance in the dying minutes, but prevailed thanks to some clutch shot making and consistent play.
How It Happened
- Elmira came out hot from distance, making their first three threes of the game and jumping out to a 9-2 lead
- Nazareth found their rhythm quickly as the Soaring Eagles began to cool off. They would go on a 20-5 run highlighted by three triples apiece from Solomon McFarlane and Tyler Putney
- Elmira slowly chipped away at Nazareth’s lead, tying the game up at 34 with just over 5 minutes of play remaining in the opening half
- The Golden Flyers led Elmira 44-41 after a fast paced first half, powered by a 62% shooting clip from beyond the three point line
- The two squads traded blows early in the second half, shifting their attacks to inside the paint. Nazareth maintained their narrow lead and Merritt Hollybegan making his presence known on the score sheet
- Elmira broke through and took the lead with just over 8 minutes left, keeping the score dead even until the final minutes
- Holly hit a clutch layup to put the Golden Flyers up by 6 with 36 seconds to go. Insley found him under the rim with a driving pass after spinning past his man
- Nazareth held on late despite an aggressive final push from Elmira, earning a 6 point victory at home
Game Notes
- Merritt Holly went 11/13 for 24 points with 8 rebounds and 2 steals
- Tyler Putney had 15 points
- Jaylen Savage had 10 points and 7 assists
- Solomon McFarlane scored 12 points
- Luke Insley had 10 assists, 4 rebounds and 9 points
- Nazareth shot 52% from the field
What’s Next
The Golden Flyers will hit the hardwood again on Saturday, January 17th at 4pm to take on conference foes, the Keuka College Wolves.