UTICA RALLIES TO DEFEAT NAZARETH, 57-53
Golden Flyers (6-11 overall) visit Hartwick Saturday at 4 p.m.
BOXSCORE | UPDATED STATS

UTICA, N.Y. (Jan. 28, 2005) – Host Utica rallied from a five-point halftime disadvantage to outscore Nazareth 32-23 in the second half Friday and went on to defeat the Golden Flyers, 57-53, in an Empire 8 Conference men's basketball game.

The loss dropped the Golden Flyers to 1-5 in conference play and 6-11 overall. Nazareth will try to snap a three-game losing Saturday at Hartwick at 4 p.m. (WHTK-AM 1280).

Nazareth fell behind early in the game, 14-5, before rallying to take a 30-25 lead at the break. A three-pointer by senior guard Tim Slakas (pictured) snapped a 25-25 tie with 1:26 left in the half, then freshman Joe Canori made a field goal with :13 left to make the score 30-25.

In the second half, the Golden Flyers extended their lead to as many as eight points, 42-34, on a three-pointer by Ryan McAdam with 14:40 to play. Utica came back to tie the score and the game was still deadlocked at 53-53 when Nazareth's Kyle Nelson made a free throw with 2:14 left.

Utica's Tim Troy sank a pair of free throws with :35 to play to give the Pioneers the lead for good. McAdam misfired on a game-tying attempt with :11 left, then Troy added two more foul shots with :06 left to seal the Utica win.

McAdam was Nazareth's high scorer with 12 points. Canori added 10 and Slakas nine. Freshman center Tyler Smith had his best game to date with eight points. Nelson led Nazareth rebounders with 10.