The St. John Fisher College men’s basketball team improved to 10-0 in the Empire 8 Conference and 16-3 overall,
as the Cardinals 80-75 defeated East Avenue rival Nazareth College before a sell-out crowd at Fisher’s Manning & Napier Varsity Gym. With the loss, Nazareth falls to 12-6, 7-2. Fisher leads the all-time series vs. Nazareth, 50-25.
Fisher took the lead for good midway through the second half on a free throw from
Matt Newman, giving the Cardinals a 60-59 advantage.
Nazareth trimmed Fisher’s lead down to one point on three different occasions, its last coming at 75-74 with 1:38 left on a 3-pointer from Phil Scaffidi.
Fisher’s
Jordan Gettings, who finished with a career-high 20 points, scored on a driving layup with 1:02 remaining, pushing Fisher’s lead back to three points at 77-74. Nazareth’s Corey McAdam made it 77-75 with a made free throw with 49 seconds left before Gettings converted on one of two free throws with 29 seconds left, giving the Cardinals a 78-75 lead.
The Golden Flyers didn’t attempt a game-tying shot on its ensuing possession, however, as Corletta turned the ball over and Newman sealed the win with two free throws.
McAdam led all scorers with 26 points. He also finished with seven assists and seven rebounds. Scaffidi tallied 17 points, while Corletta added 13.
For Fisher, four players finished in double figures. Newman recorded a double-double, finishing with 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.
Michael Wopperer finished with 12 points and three blocked shots.
Fisher shot 51.7% (30-for-58) from the floor for the game, including 60.0% for the second half.
Fisher will return to action on at 8 p.m. on Friday and will host Stevens Institute of Technology.