GAME NOTES
On Deck!
Saint Francis and Robert Morris will conclude Northeast Conference Rivalry Week with a regionally televised contest on FSN-Pittsburgh, FCS, ESPN3, and ESPN?Full Court. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night at DeGol Arena. Matt Harmon will provide the play-by-play, while Pam Roecker will be the color analyst. It will mark the second game between the schools in an 80-hour span as the Colonials used a late 15-3 run to hand the Red Flash a 78-68 defeat on Wednesday night in Moon Township. SFU dropped its fourth straight game to fall to 7-17 overall, and 5-8 in the NEC. RMU improved to 11-13 overall, and 7-6 in the league. Both games can be heard live on The EDGE?1400 AM (Loretto, Pa.) and The EDGE 850 AM (Johnstown, Pa.), and a link to listen will be available at www.myedgeradio.com. Additionally, a live video webcast will be available via Red Flash All-Access at www.SFUathletics.com.
On The Horizon
The Red Flash will make their final regular season road trip of the season when it heads to Monmouth and Fairleigh Dickinson next Thursday and Saturday, respectively. SFU will take a 1-14 overall road record into the trip, and are 1-6 in NEC road games. Thursday night's game will tipoff at 7:45 p.m., while Saturday's game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Playoff Picture
With five regular season games remaining, Saint Francis would qualify for the Northeast Conference playoffs if they started today. However, the Red Flash have some work to do. They are currently in eighth place (Bryant is not eligible for the postseason), and one game ahead of Sacred Heart. SFU owns any tie-breaker with the Pioneers due to its victory on Jan. 27. First-place Long Island (11-2 NEC) and second-place Central Connecticut State (10-3) are the only two NEC teams to qualify for the postseason at this point.
History Lesson
The Saint Francis radio team of Bernie Jubeck and Joe Vesnesky love their history, so we dedicate this note to the voices of the Red Flash. Moon Township is a township along the Ohio River in Allegheny County. Moon is a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area as it is located 15 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. The origin of its name is unknown for certain, although it has been suggested that it derives from a crescent-shaped bend in the river. Another theory is derived from lore that tells of a waning crescent moon descending to plow furrows in farmer's fields with its sharp cusp, but killing many excited people who cursed and praised the moon's early morning activities. The initial settlement of Moon Township was a direct result of the westward expansion of English settlers and traders that arrived in the Ohio Valley in the early to mid-18th century. During the French and Indian War large parcels of southwestern Pennsylvania lands were ceded to settlers and were, in some cases, occupied by land squatters. The ceding of these lands occurred either through early treaties or outright abandonment by the Iroquois Nation – the avowed owners of the land.
Series vs. Robert Morris
This will be the 69th meeting between Saint Francis and Robert Morris. The Colonials have won six straight meetings to take a 40-28 lead in the series, which began in 1977-78. SFU has lost six straight games against RMU at DeGol Arena. The last Red Flash win came on Jan. 27, 2005. Robert Morris earned a 78-68 win over Saint Francis on Wednesday night in Moon Township.
Sizing Up The Colonials
Robert Morris was picked in the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll to finish second in the 12-team league. Under the direction of first-year head coach Andrew Toole, the Colonials are 11-13 overall and 7-6 in the Northeast Conference. RMU is fifth in the NEC in scoring (66.0 ppg), third in scoring defense (66.0 ppg), and third in field goal percentage defense (.415). The Colonials are led by NEC Rookie-of-the-Year (2009-10) Karon Abraham, who averages a team-high 15.1 ppg and has a team high 57 three-pointers and 25 steals. Russell Johnson has a team-high 15 blocks and 7.2 rpg, and is third with 11.2 ppg, while Velton Jones has contributed 11.2 ppg, a team-high 38 steals and 86 assists. The Colonials have won two of thier last three games to improve to 11-13 overall, and 7-6 in the NEC.
Inside The Box Score
Saint Francis dropped its fourth straight game in the first game of a home-and-home series versus Robert Morris, on Wednesday night. Here is an in-depth look and some notes from the box score:
- Despite a season-best 14 three-point field goals and a 17-to-11 assist-to-turnover ratio, the Red Flash were out-rebounded 39-19 and RMU made 25-of-33 free throw attempts to pull out a 78-68 win.
- The Red Flash made a season-high 14 three-pointers, most since sinking 13 in three games last season. They were 14-of-27 (.519) from outside the arc and now rank seventh in the NEC in 3-point field goal percentage (.328).
- SFU shot 43.0 percent or better (.451) for the 10th straight game, and have risen to fourth in the NEC in field goal percentage (.425).
- Saint Francis had a streak of reaching double digits in free throws made snapped at 10 games. SFU was 8-of-13 (.615) at the stripe.
- The Red Flash have scored 68 or more points in eight of their last nine games. They entered this nine-game stretch averaging just 58.9 ppg on the season, but have averaged 73.2 ppg over the last nine.
- Saint Francis pulled down a season-low 19 rebounds at RMU on Wednesday night.
- Sophomore Umar Shannon (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) scored 19 of his game-high 23 points in the second half. He was 0-for-4 from the field, 0-for-3 from long distance and 4-of-5 from the stripe in the first half. But bounced back with a 7-for-9 effort from the field and a 5-for-6 contribution from outside the arc in the second half. His five 3-pointers tied a career high. Shannon has led SFU in scoring 13 times this season, and eight times in the last nine games. He is averaging 20.2 ppg and 3.1 rpg and is shooting 51.4 percent (54-of-105) from the field, 46.6 percent (27-of-58) from long distance, and 82.5 percent (47-of-57) from the stripe over the last nine games.
- Sophomore Will Felder (Cleveland, OH/Lutheran East Hs) had 16 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists before fouling out with just under 6:00 remaining. He was 5-of-7 from the field and 3-for-3 from outside the arc.
- Sophomore Chris Johnson (Newport News, Va./Denbigh) added 11 points, 5 assists and 2 steals and was 4-of-6 from the field and 3-for-3 from long distance. He has scored in double digits for three straight games for the first time in his career.
Shannon is Shining
Sophomore Umar Shannon (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) is developing into one of the top scorers in the Northeast Conference. He is putting together a month to remember in averaging 20.9 ppg and 3.3 rpg over his last eight games. Shannon is shooting 53.3 percent from the field (49-of-92), 50.0 percent from long distance (24-of-48) and 84.9 percent from the stripe (45-of-53) during that time. He has reached 20 points in six of the eight games, including a career-high 30 points at Sacred Heart.
Growing Pains
As one of the youngest Division I teams in the country, Saint Francis is suffering through some growing pains as head coach Don Friday is in the midst of a rebuilding process. With just 11 total years of Division I experience on the roster heading into 2010-11, most of SFU's minutes are being played by student-athletes with less than two years of experience. The five Red Flash sophomores have accounted for 62.2 percent (3000 of 4825) of the minutes played so far this season. Add in the six newcomers who have seen action, including junior transfer Jon Taylor (Bowie, Md./Montgomery College-Germantown), and 84.1 percent (4058 of 4825) of the minutes played are being contributed by first or second-year Division I players.
Super Sophomores
As previously mentioned, Saint Francis' five sophomores are putting in significant minutes this season. SFU has started first/second-year players in 18 of its 24 games this season, and the five second-year players have contributed 3000 of 4825 possible minutes (62.2 percent) thus far. Most of the team's production is also coming from the five players. Anthony Ervin (Chesterfield, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) Will Felder (Cleveland, OH/Lutheran East Hs), Chris Johnson (Newport News, Va./Denbigh), Tony?Peters and Umar Shannon (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) have scored 1055 of 1542 points and have pulled down 403 of 767 rebounds, accounting for 68.4 percent of the team's offense and 52.5 percent of its rebounds.
Home Sweet Home
Despite a two-game home losing streak, the Red Flash have a .667 winning percentage at DeGol Arena over their last 24 games (16-8 record) dating back to a 78-59 season-ending victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Feb. 28, 2009. SFU had a four-game home winning streak snapped against CCSU on Feb. 3, but has won 11 of its last 15 at home. Saint Francis will play host to Robert Morris during NEC Rivalry Week when the Colonials visit for an 8:30 p.m. televised game on Saturday night.
One Point Wins
With their 70-69 heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss against Bryant on Feb. 5, the Red Flash dropped to 19-11 all-time in one-point games at DeGol Arena. Saint Francis has a 308-192 record (.616) all-time at DeGol Arena, which opened in 1972-73.
