FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Feb. 16, 2008) – Two long scoring droughts cost the Saint Francis men's basketball team on Saturday afternoon in its chance to gain ground on some of the Northeast Conference's top teams. Sacred Heart used a 21-3 run to pull away from the Red Flash in a 73-55 victory at the Pitt Center.

Saint Francis will return to DeGol Arena for its last two homes games of the season. The Red Flash will host Wagner at 7 p.m. on Thursday before Mount St. Mary's comes to town at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Saint Francis was paced by another strong effort from junior Bassirou Dieng (Dakar, Senegal /Riverdale Baptist) (Dakar, Senegal / Riverdale Baptist), who had 19 points and 7 rebounds. He made 9-of-10 attempts from the charity stripe. Junior Marquis Ford (St. Petersburg, FL /St. Petersburg) (St. Petersburg, Fla. / St. Petersburg) added 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Brice Brooks 12 of his 18 points in the first half to pace the Pioneers. He also had 8 rebounds. Ryan Litke added 12 points.

The Red Flash had a 25-18 lead in the first half when they went the final 6:53 without a field goal. Sacred Heart finished the half on a 15-3 run to take a 33-28 lead into the break.

The Red Flash pulled to within 37-36 on a layup by junior Steve Profeta (Carnegie, PA /Chartiers Valley ) (Carnegie, Pa. / Chartiers Valley) with 15:27 to go in the game. However, they went the next 13:23 without a field goal during a 21-3 Sacred Heart run.

Dieng came out strong for the second straight game. He had 10 points and 6 rebounds in the first to help Saint Francis to an early 25-18 lead. However, the Red Flash offense struggled over the final seven minutes of the half and didn't score a field goal in that span as the Pioneers took a 33-28 lead into the break.

Brooks paced Sacred Heart with 12 points and 7 rebounds in the first half, while Hardy added 8 points.

Saint Francis committed 11 turnovers in the first half, and made just 3-of-12 from downtown.