HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 30, 2009) – Nazareth College scored 55 points in a huge second half en route to an 87-72 victory over the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team. The Golden Flyers went 20-for-30 from the floor over the game's final 20 minutes and turned a three-point halftime deficit into a 15-point win. Stevens was led by 19 points from senior guard Virgil Gray.
The Ducks (10-8 overall, 3-6 Empire 8) played a solid first half. After falling behind 20-11 with 12:33 to go in the first, Stevens went on an 11-2 run to knot the score at 22. Gray had six points in the spurt and tied the score with a layup with 8:34 to go in the half. Neither team could extend any kind of lead over the remainder of the half, and Stevens went into the break with a three-point edge after junior forward Ian Masone knocked down an 18-foot jumper with 42 ticks to go in the half.
Nazareth came out on fire in the second and jumped out to an eight-point lead after a 14-3 run over 3:06 of game time. Senior guard Michael Baker was able to get the Ducks back within four after he buried a deep three with 14:23 remaining, but Stevens would not get any closer the rest of the way.
Stevens still was in fighting distance at 60-53 with 11:12 to go, but the Golden Flyers (6-11 overall, 3-5 Empire 8) scored 11 of the game's next 13 points to put the game away.
Nazareth was balanced all night as four of its five starters were in double figures. Senior Ryan McAdam (Fairport, N.Y.) had 25 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Junior Corey McAdam (Fairport, N.Y.) scored 25, ripped down six boards, and had five helpers. Senior center Jeff DeHimer (Scotia, N.Y.) was a huge reason Nazareth was able to stay close throughout the first half. He scored 15 of his 21 in the opening 20 minutes and was 6-for-7 from the floor during that time.
Senior guard Anthony Passalacqua had 18 points, and Baker added 16 to go along with five rebounds.
Stevens shot 41 percent from the floor on the night but just nine of 27 from the long range. Nazareth shot 55.9 percent on the evening, and a fantastic 7-for-14 from deep. Nazareth also only turned the ball over 10 times compared to 17 for Stevens.
Stevens will look to end its three-game losing skid on Sunday when it hosts No. 21 St. John Fisher College. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. at Canavan Arena.
