PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Zach Stenglein scored 16 of his game-high 22 points in the second half Saturday as visiting Nazareth had its national ranking put to the test at St. John Fisher, but the Golden Flyers prevailed, 77-71, to solidify their hold on first place in the Empire 8 Conference men's basketball standings.

To win the Golden Flyers overcame an eight-minute scoring drought in the second half, during which they coughed up a 12-point lead, to equal a school record with their 14th straight win. Ranked 25th nationally by d3hoops.com, Nazareth improved to 16-1 overall and 8-0 in the Empire 8. Fisher is 13-5 overall and 7-2 in conference play.

Stenglein's points included four three-pointers -- three in the second half -- and an 8-for-10 effort from the free throw line with some clutch shots down the stretch. Stephen Gabel and Jonathan Park each scored 12 points and Kevin Underwood added nine.

Nazareth was ahead most of the way. It was 43-36 at halftime and a 14-9 scoring run -- capped by a three-pointer by Gabel -- over the first seven minutes of the second half extended the lead to double digits at 57-45. That's when the offensive drought started as Fisher used a 15-point scoring run to take its first lead of the game at 60-57.

Stenglein then took over by scoring eight straight points as Nazareth regained the lead for good. He rallied the Golden Flyers by connecting on back-to-back three-pointers and then added a driving layup to give Nazareth a 65-60 advantage with less than four minutes left.

Two Fisher baskets sliced the lead to one at 65-64, but Park scored off a fast break pass from Stenglein and Gabel buried a clutch three-pointer to push the lead back to six, 70-64. Nazareth then cashed in at the foul line. First Underwood hit a free throw, then Stenglein went 5-for-6 and Gabel added one more to provide the difference in the closing minute.

Nazareth got off to a good start in the game and led by as many as nine points in the first half before settling for a 43-36 lead. Nazareth shot 14-for-29 (.483) with five three-pointers -- by five different shooters -- and the balanced attack was spearheaded by nine points from Isaac Nelson, seven from Logan Blankenberg and six each from Stenglein and Underwood.

Fisher closed within 28-27 with five minutes left in the half, but Nazareth's late first-half run was fueled by three-pointers from Gabel and Jack Broderick and a conventional three-point play from Nelson.

Nazareth's only loss came back on Nov. 13 against Rensselaer. By winning 14 straight, the Golden Flyers matched the mark set back in the 1985-86 season. Stenglein's final stat line included four assists and three steals. Park led Nazareth rebounders with nine. Gabel was in foul trouble for much of the game, but managed to play the final 7:28 with four fouls.

Nazareth plays its next four games at home, starting with Tuesday's Empire 8 matchup with Elmira at 7:30 p.m. The rematch with St. John Fisher is Feb. 8 at 8 p.m.