Ford, Stephens Earn E8 All-Star Honors
Tyshun Stephens ’13 and Brad Ford ’14, the top two scorers on the Nazareth men’s basketball team, were selected to the Empire 8 Conference all-star team. Stephens, a six-foot guard from Newark, N.Y., was named to the first team, while Ford, a 6-foot-4 forward from Victor, N.Y., made the second team. The teams were picked through voting by the league’s head coaches.
In addition to Stephens and Ford, forward Scott Hayford ’14 was the Golden Flyers’ representative as E8 Sportsman of the Year.
Stephens was a four-year starter for the Golden Flyers and achieved numerous statistical milestones. He completed his career as Nazareth’s sixth all-time scorer with 1,423 points. He also ranks among the Golden Flyers’ all-time leaders in games played (105), field goals made (464), three-point field goals made (154), free throws made (341), and assists (366).
In 2012-13, Stephens led the Golden Flyers in scoring at 16.6 points per game. He also averaged 4.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game and connected on 33 three-point shots. He also shot 78.7 percent (129-for-164) from the free throw line for the Golden Flyers, who finished 15-10 overall.
Ford finished as the leading rebounder in the Empire 8 at 10 boards per game. He also was the Golden Flyers’ second leading scorer at 16.2 points per game and led the team with 46 three-point baskets. His 2012-13 season was highlighted by 12 double-doubles (points-rebounds) and his ascent to the Golden Flyers’ 1,000-point club. He scored 24 points in Nazareth’s season finale at Ithaca to become the 20th Nazareth player to reach that milestone and now sits at 1,011 points through three seasons.
Hayford, of Wilmington, Vt. was Nazareth’s Sportsman of the Year representative. Empire 8 emphasizes that “Competing with Honor and Integrity” is an essential component of a student-athlete’s experience in conjunction with an institution’s educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen.
Tyshun Stephens '13