ROCHESTER, NY – Freshman Jaylen Savage scored a game-high 24 points to help Nazareth hand No. 5 Oswego its first loss of the season, 80-77, Tuesday night at Kidera Gymnasium. It was a career-high in for points for Savage as he went 9-for-19 from the floor and had two steals.
 
Nazareth moves to 4-1 on the season with the win, while the Lakers fall to 3-1.
 
After holding a 14-point lead at the break, the Golden Flyers found themselves trailing 75-69 with 4:11 remaining. Nazareth held the high-powered offense scoreless over the next three minutes, eventually taking the lead for good, 76-75, on a layup from Jonathan Park. On the next possession Savage buried two free throws, followed up by Park nailing a tough turnaround layup with :23 seconds to give Nazareth the 80-77 advantage. The Lakers were unable to convert a last-second 3-point opportunity to tie the game.
 
In the first half, Nazareth broke free of a one-point advantage by finishing the final 7:38 on a 22-9 run to open up its largest lead of the half at 46-32. Jordan Haggard remained on fire from 3-point land, hitting 3-for-4, including the final bucket of the half with :05 seconds on the clock. He finished the game with 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting.
 
Savage had a strong first, going 4-for-8 for 11 points with two steals. Nazareth shot 58.1 percent in the half (18-for-31), including 4-for-6 from 3-point range.
 
In the second half, Oswego upped its defensive pressure with a full-court press which disrupted Nazareth's offensive rhythm. The visitors outscored Nazareth 25-11 over the first seven minutes of the second to storm all the way back to tie the game at 57 apiece.
 
The Lakers would later take their first lead since the 11:19 mark of the first half (16-15), on a Cartier Bowman bucket with 12:04 left on the clock to make it 59-57.
 
Oswego built its largest lead of the game, 69-61, with 9:11 to play, but the Golden Flyers were able to hang around, eventually overtaking the Lakers for good with just over a minute and half to play on a Park layup to make it 76-71. He finished with 16 points (6-for-10) and 13 boards for his third double-double of the season.
 
Nazareth will be back in action on December 2, hosting Elmira College at 7:30 p.m. to open up conference play.