UTICA, N.Y. - After defeating the no. 1 seed Utica University in the semi-finals on Friday night, the St. John Fisher University men's basketball team competed on Saturday in the Empire 8 Championship game against no. 2 seed Nazareth College. At the end of regulation, Fisher defeated the Golden Flyers by a score of 78-62 and became the 2023 Empire 8 Champions.

Connor Recore got the scoring started for the Cardinals with a layup assisted by Cole Thompson. Daniel Cook was next to tally two off another assist from Thompson, giving Fisher an early 4-2 lead. Thompson recorded a steal and took it end-to-end, finishing on a layup bringing the score to 13-6 with 15:43 to go in the first half. Fisher built a lead the Golden Flyer's could not close. Matt Lettko recorded a defensive rebound and transitioned the ball down the court to Akinlana Popoola, finding Recore on the other end hitting a three. Ryan Gentile sunk a three to give the Cardinals their biggest lead of the night so far, 34-18, up by 16 with 5:12 to go. Brendan McRoy closed out the scoring with a jump shot bringing the score to 39-24 going into halftime.

Fisher started the second half fast; Gentile hit a three assisted by Foley just 15 seconds in. Coming out of a Fisher timeout, with 17:13 to go, Thompson hit a three assisted by Gentile to bring the score to 49-34. Foley got the ball from the defensive end to Recore who drove hard tallying two bringing the Fisher lead up by 14. With 8:52 to go, Lettko found Cook for a dunk to give Fisher momentum holding an 11-point lead. The Golden Flyers tried to chip away at the gap Fisher created but the closet they could get was within six with 4 minutes to go. Foley finished on a layup with 1:57 to go, to start a 10 point Cardinals run, that ultimately secured a Cardinals victory. McRoy finished on a free throw attempt to bring the Championship game to the final buzzer, the Cardinals win the Empire 8 Championship over Nazareth by a final score of 78-65.

Cook led the way with 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists. He received the MVP of the Empire 8 Championship Tournament. Recore was right behind with 14 points and eight rebounds. McRoy had 13 points, five rebounds and one assist. Gentile finished with 12 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Up next for the Cardinals, they will find out their location and opponent on Monday at 1pm during the selection show.

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