ALFRED, NY—Saxons use high-tempo offense and stifling defense to take home a tight Empire 8 matchup vs. Nazareth College, 67-60, in the Terry S. Galanis Family Arena Friday evening.
 
Alfred University dominated Naz in points off turnovers (19-4), second chance points (11-4) and fast-break points (14-4) on its way to its third home-win in a row.  Sophomore guard Julian Reinhart (Hornell, NY/Hornell) paced the Saxons with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists.
 
The game began with impenetrable defense on both fronts as the AU and Naz combined for 10 points in the opening 6:47 of the game.  Neither team could mount much momentum; even a fast-break dunk by senior Dalton Walsh (Stockton, NY/Cassadega) couldn't swing the momentum despite the crowd showing their pleasure with the athletic play.
 
The first half came to an end with the Saxons holding a tight, 28-27, lead on the Golden Flyers. Sophomore forward Eric Adams (Lebanon, NJ/Hunterdon Central) led AU with six points and six rebounds in the opening half.
 
Regardless of their lead going into the half, the Saxons fell behind early in the second stanza of the game following a layup by Naz forward Maurice Mills. The Golden Flyers maintained their lead until the 7:10 mark when senior Mike Snyder (Pulaski, NY/Pulaski) hit a momentum swinging 3PT shot to take the lead.  Nazareth's Nick Nadeau answered with a three of his own, but the damage was done.  AU had hit its stride and rattled off a six-point run to grab AU's second largest lead of the game.  Walsh added an exclamation point to the run with an emphatic dunk that set the crowd on fire.
 
In the closing 56 seconds of the game Naz fouled to try and sneak its way back into the game.  However, a band of Saxons hit 8-of-10 shots from the charity stripe down the stretch.  As the game concluded AU had a firm grip on a 67-60 victory.
 
Senior Tim Pacheco (Mt. Pocono, PA/Pocono Mountain East) followed in suit behind Reinhart with a double-digit evening at 10 points and four assists. Walsh ended with eight points and eight rebounds while sophomore Tyler Seelman (Lorton, VA/Hayfield Secondary) matched with eight points of his own.
 
With the win the Saxons maintain their position of third place in the Empire 8 and look to keep their win-streak going tomorrow, Sat., February 7^th at Houghton College against the Highlanders.