BUFFALO, NY – 20^th-ranked Nazareth held off a gritty Medaille squad on Friday night as five players scored in double-figures in a 78-70 victory, led by Jonathan Park's seventh double-double of the season. Park was 8-for-11 from the field for 18 points, with 17 rebounds and two blocks. Jordan Haggard scored in double-figures for the third-straight game with 16 points on 6-for-12 to go along with six boards. Jaylen Savage added 14 points, while Zach Stenglein and Logan Blankenberg each poured in 13 points apiece.
 
It was the first-ever conference meeting between the two teams with Medaille joining the Empire 8 in the 2022-23 season.
 
Nazareth has now won seven-straight games and sit at 10-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play. The unblemished conference record of 4-0 is tops in the league, followed by Utica at 3-0. Medaille drops to 3-7 overall and 1-2 in league play.
 
Nazareth led by five points with 6:13 remaining in the opening half before closing on a 13-4 run. That made the score 39-25 in favor of the Golden Flyers at the half. Haggard had seven points during that stretch.
 
The Mavericks clawed back within 65-62 with just 3:21 to play before Nazareth was able to score the games next seven points to all but seal the victory. That run began with a Haggard traditional 3-point play and was capped by a Park dunk with 2:12 left to make it 72-62.
 
Medaille came within 76-70 with just over :30 seconds to play, but it would come no closer.
 
Nazareth was 47 percent from the field (32-for-68) despite just 3-for-12 from 3-point land.
 
The Golden Flyers will square off against Houghton University at 4 p.m. on Saturday.