BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- The Saint Francis men's basketball team got key contributions off the bench to close a 17-point deficit, but fell short in its comeback bid as Lehigh defeated the Red Flash 61-56 on Monday night at Stabler Arena.
Junior Randy Spaid (Portage, PA /Portage) (Portage, Pa. / Portage) and sophomore Sorena Orandi (Vastra Frolunda, Sweden/Solebury Prep) (Vastra Frolunda, Sweden / Solebury Prep) had yet to score a point in limited action this season. However, Spaid had a career high seven points, tied a career high with three rebounds and had a steal in 10 minutes off the bench. Orandi had nine points, two rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes.
Junior Devin Sweetney (Washington, DC /Riverdale Baptist) (Washington, D.C. / Riverdale Baptist) led the way for Saint Francis with 12 points, seven rebounds and a steal, while junior Mislav Jukic (Zagreb, Crotia/Life Center Acadamy) (Zagreb, Croatia / Life Center Academy) had seven points, five rebounds and an assist.
The Red Flash will regroup during the Thanksgiving holiday and return to action at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday night when they visit Youngstown State. That game can be heard live on The EDGE 1400 AM, while a link to listen will be available at www.goRedFlash.com.
Dave Buchberger paced Lehigh with 15 points, and a 6-for-6 effort at the foul stripe, while Zahir Carrington added 12 points, eight rebounds and a block in the final seconds. SFU held preseason all-Patriot League selection Marquis Hall to just eight points and four rebounds, but he did dish out five assists and take away four steals.
Michael Ojo gave the Mountain Hawks a 17-point advantage, 50-33, by hitting the first of two free throws with 9:07 to play in the game. But Spaid scored his first bucket and completed a 3-point play to make it 50-36 with 8:36 remaining. John Adams made a layup to make it 52-36 with 8:16 left in the game. However, the Red Flash buckled down on defense and held Lehigh without a field goal for the next 4:30, while forcing the Mountain Hawks into four turnovers during that span. By the time Lehigh made its next field goal, the lead was cut to seven points on an SFU 13-6 run.
Prentice Small's jumper made it a nine-point game, 58-49, to end the drought with 3:46 remaining. The Red Flash went on another 5-0 run over the next 3:06. Sweetney scored all five points to pull SFU within 58-54 with 40 seconds to play. Carrington made the back end of two free throws with 38 seconds left to make it 59-54. Orandi then drove the length of the floor to cut the lead to three points, 59-56, with 30 seconds left. It was the closest SFU had been since the 3:46 mark of the first half.
However, Dave Buchberger made a pair of free throws to put the game out of reach with 25 seconds left.
