Nazareth College Wins Empire 8 Men's Basketball Title
March 1, 2008
From Nazareth College Release
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Junior Ryan McAdam recorded a team-high 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Golden Flyers to a 64-63 victory over St. John Fisher in the Empire 8 Conference championship game at Ithaca. He was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
With the victory, Nazareth improves to 20-7 and clinches an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals fall to 16-11 with the loss. This will be the Golden Flyers' fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament under Coach Daley, but the first since 1998.
Nazareth led 12-7 early in the first half following a layup from senior Tyler Smith. St. John Fisher answered with a 10-0 scoring run spanning about three and a half minutes to take a 17-12 lead with 11:03 left in the first half. Senior Joe Canori trimmed Fisher's lead to 24-23 with a three-pointer with 5:26 to play before halftime.
The Cardinals responded with an 7-0 scoring run to extend their lead to a game-high eight points, 31-23, following two free throws from Brandon Witte. Witte also gave the Cardinals an eight-point lead a few minutes later with a layup. Ryan McAdam then scored five consecutive points in 21 seconds to pull Nazareth to within 35-32 with 1:35 to play in the half. Sophomore Rayvon Higdon connected on a two-point jumper in the final seconds to cut the Golden Flyers' deficit to one point at the break.
Nazareth and Fisher traded baskets through the first 11 minutes of the second half. The game featured five tying baskets and six lead changes during that span. Eventually Nazareth scored eight consecutive points to give the Golden Flyers their biggest lead of the night, 58-52, with 8:16 to play. Sophomore Corey McAdam began the run with a jumper and was followed by a jumper from Canori. Higdon added a three-pointer while Canori capped off the run with a free throw.
Justin Beigel answered immediately with a three-pointer for the Cardinals to cut Nazareth's lead to three points. Fisher cut Nazareth's lead to one point three times before Matt Newman gave the Cardinals a 63-62 lead with 2:03 left in the game. On Nazareth's next possession, the Golden Flyers reclaimed the lead as Canori connected on two free throws with 1:45 left in the game.
Nazareth seemed to have the game secured twice in the final seconds as Corey McAdam recorded two steals. However, McAdam missed both foul shots to give Fisher hope. The Cardinals' long desperation shot at the buzzer hit the front of the rim to give Nazareth the victory.
The Golden Flyers held a slim 36-34 advantage in rebounds while the Cardinals held a small edge in turnovers 14-10. Nazareth will be waiting to see where and who it plays against in the NCAA Tournament.