BOX SCORE

RICHMOND, Va. (Nov. 11, 2011) – The Saint Francis men's basketball team fell to Virginia Commonwealth in its season opener Friday night, 63-57.
 
Umar Shannon (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) led the Red Flash (0-1, 0-0) with a 26-point effort but it was not enough as the Rams (1-0, 0-0) escaped with the win. Shannon poured in 12 in the second half but an early second half charge was enough for the Rams to hold on to late. The Rams, national semifinalists a season ago, raised their Final Four banner prior to the game.
 
The first half got off to a slow start with each team fighting for baskets. Saint Francis used a small run to take a 17-15 lead but the Rams caught fire following the third media timeout of the half. VCU used its full court pressure to generate turnovers but the Flash stopped the run and went into the half trailing 36-27. The Rams used full court pressure defense all night following Red Flash made baskets but Saint Francis handled the pressure well with few early giveaways. Shannon led the Red Flash in the first half with 14 while going seven-of-seven from the free throw line. The Flash used the free throw well going 9-of-12 from the charity stripe.
 
VCU came out of the locker room fast and raced out to a 16-point advantage. Saint Francis refused to go away and slowly crept back into the game. With 2:35 left, the Flash had the VCU lead down to just five. Shannon cut the lead to just three with a 3-point bucket with less than a minute left but the Rams responded with a 3-point bucket of its own to put the game out of reach.
 
Saint Francis returns to action Monday in its home opener against Lafayette. Tipoff against the Leopards at DeGol Arena is set for 7 p.m.
 
GAME NOTES
- For the game Saint Francis shot 47.6 percent while holding VCU to a 32.8 shooting percentage. At the half the Rams were shooting just 42.3 percent (11-of-26) while the Flash were at 36.4-percent (8-of-22).
 
- VCU led at the half 36-27 with rebounding even at 17 for each team with both teams having four offensive boards and 13 defensive boards.
 
- VCU went on an 18-4 run from the 7:26 mark to the 1:48 mark of the first half to open up a 33-21 lead. The run was stopped by a 3-point shot by Umar Shannon (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City).
 
- Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) fouled out with 8:52 remaining in regulation.
 
- Stephon Whyatt (Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) scored his first college basket in the first half on a 3-point attempt.
 
- Saint Francis held the Rams to just one field goal of over the first 7:12 of the first half.
 
- Eatherton recorded the first field goal of the game for the Red Flash at 14:54 of the first half.
 
- Ollie Jackson (Dallas, Texas/Pinkston ) and Stephon Whayatt each saw their first college action Friday against Virginia Commonwealth.
 
- Umar Shannon (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) recorded the first points of the season on the free throw line after being fouled on a 3-point attempt.
 
- Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) won the opening tip for Saint Francis.