ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Senior Phil Scaffidi (Buffalo) scored 21 points and senior Jason Corletta (Pittsford Sutherland) added 20 points Friday as host Nazareth held off Alfred in an Empire 8 Conference game for men's basketball, 76-66.

Nazareth improved to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in the Empire 8. Alfred dropped to 8-4 overall and 1-2 in conference games. The Golden Flyers host Elmira Saturday at 4 p.m. while Alfred visits St. John Fisher.

Friday's game was tight for the entire first half with Nazareth settling for a 39-35 halftime lead as Scaffidi sank four free throws in the final minute to break the 10th and final tie of the game. Nazareth led the entire second half and extended the lead to double figures in the first two minutes as Scaffidi hit a three-point shot and Tyshun Stephens (Newark) added a free throw for a 45-35 lead.

After Alfred closed within six, 49-43, on a three-pointer by Sean Curran with 15:24 left, Nazareth used an 11-4 scoring run, capped by a basket by Corletta, to extend the lead to a game-high 13 points, 60-47, with 9:00 left.

Nazareth maintained its lead by hitting free throws as the Golden Flyers set a school record for single-game accuracy by hitting 18 of 19 attempts overall (.947), including 9-of-10 in the second half. Scaffidi made two free throws with 1:16 left, then Corletta followed with four straight in the final minute and Brad Ford (Victor) hit two more with :23 left to preserve the hard-fought victory.

Scaffidi and Corletta each made 7 of 13 shots from the field with Scaffidi going a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line and Corletta 4-for-4. Freshman Jamell Johnson (Charles Finney) had his second straight double-digit scoring game for Nazareth with 11 points. Ford added eight points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Senior Greg Lothridge (East Syracuse-Minoa) contributed seven points and three blocks.

Scaffidi's 21 points boosts his career total to 949 as he strives to join Corletta in Nazareth's 1,000-point club.

Despite its strong free-throw shooting, Nazareth struggled from long distance in making just 4 of 23 shots from three-point range, including 0-for-10 in the first half. The Golden Flyers shot 27 for 64 overall (.422) and enjoyed a 41-34 rebounding advantage.

Josh Parker led Alfred with 21 points and Derek Lewis added 20.