Men's basketball

Democrat and Chronicle staff and wire reports

(Sunday, February 3, 2002) -- Matt Morley made two free throws with 23 seconds left and they proved to be the winning points as St. John Fisher defeated rival and host Nazareth 65-63 Saturday in an Empire 8 Conference basketball game.

After Morley made his two clutch shots, Jimmy Evans hit a layup for Nazareth with four seconds left. Fisher (5-4, 10-8) missed a free throw with three seconds remaining.

Nazareth went on a 6-0 run to pull within 59-53 with 4:17 to play before Fisher went ahead 61-53. Nazareth scored five unanswered points to trail 61-58 with 2:19 left.

Aaron Berwanger's basket with 46 seconds left gave Fisher a 63-58 lead.

Nazareth trailed 36-30 with 16:54 left, but pulled within 44-42 when Rich Orlicz hit two free throws with 12:37 left. Berwanger hit a 3-pointer for Fisher with 12:21 to play. The Cardinals went on an 8-0 run to lead 59-48 with 5:08 left.

Nazareth (6-2, 12-7) scored six unanswered points to lead 13-4 early in the first half. Fisher tied the score at 18 and spurted to a 27-22 lead and it led at halftime, 30-26.

Berwanger scored 21 points and Morley added 18 for Fisher. Jesse Lisiecka scored 24 for Nazareth. Evans added 17 and Fran Zablocki added 10 for the Golden Flyers.

Mount Vernon Nazarene 97, Roberts Wesleyan 92 (OT): Joe Rebisz (Perry) scored 31 points and pulled down 20 rebounds for the visiting Raiders (6-6 America Mideast Conference, 16-11). Rebisz grabbed 10 offensive and 10 defensive rebounds.

James Floyd added 18 points, hitting all four of the Raiders' 3-pointers.

Graham Witherspoon and Matt Lipiska added 10 each for Roberts.

Brockport 81, Utica/Rome 55: Junior Mike Medbury (Attica) scored 23 points for the visiting Golden Eagles (10-1 SUNYAC, 19-1). Brockport shot 61 percent from the field during the first half. Brandon Mills (Spencerport) added 13 points and Mike Masters (Aquinas) added 11 for Brockport.

Rochester Institute of Technology 70, Alfred 64: Brandon Redmond (Palmyra-Macedon) scored 25 points and Michael Stanton (Honeoye Falls-Lima) added 15 for the host Tigers (5-3 Empire 8, 12-7).

Tanner Webb (Newark) and Brock Stortini scored 12 points and Devon Downing added 11 for Alfred (4-5, 9-10).

Monroe CC 62, Champlain College (Vt.) 59: Brandon Andrews (Bishop Kearney) scored 15 points and Phil Valenti (Pittsford Sutherland) added 15 for visiting MCC (18-5).

Hobart 96, Skidmore 65: Davidek Herron tied his career high scoring total with 30 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for the host Statesmen (5-5 UCAA, 10-11). Herron needs 26 points to reach 1,000 for his career.

Teammate Joe Corbett contributed 24 points and 15 rebounds. Hobart scored 60 points in the paint to 32 for Skidmore (0-9, 5-15).

Erie Community College 101, Alfred State 95: Marcus Young (Bishop Kearney) and Ameer Drake each scored 20 points for the host Pioneers (14-8) in a Region III, Division II game.

Hilbert 73, Keuka 63: Host Hilbert (2-2, 5-13) jumped to a 12-0 lead. Zach Tofany (Livonia) scored 20 for the Storm (0-2, 0-15).

Princeton 60, Cornell 38: Ray Robins scored 18 of his career-high 28 points in the decisive first half as host Princeton routed Cornell.

Princeton (4-0 Ivy League, 9-7) won its sixth straight and has defeated Cornell (0-6, 3-16) in 16 of the last 17 meetings between the teams. The Big Red lost its sixth straight and ninth in its last 10.

American 72, Colgate 58: Steve Miles scored 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and Glen Stokes led all scorers with 19 as host American won a Patriot League game.

The Eagles (6-2, 12-9) remained in first place and gained a season sweep of Colgate (3-5, 12-9). Mark Linebaugh had 17 points to lead the Red Raiders, who couldn't match American's speed and outside shooting.

Akron 89, Buffalo 81: Rashon Brown scored 28 points and Andy Hipsher added 21 as Akron defeated host Buffalo to continue its hot streak.

The Zips (4-6 Mid-American Conference, 8-13) won their fourth league game in a row after losing their first six.

Robert Brown scored 25 points, Darcel Williams 21 and Louis Campbell had 15 for Buffalo (5-5, 10-11).