GAME NOTES
On Deck!
The Red Flash will try to snap a two-game skid when it plays host to Bryant University in a rare 3 p.m. contest on “Hall of Fame Day,” Saturday afternoon at DeGol Arena. It will mark the 500th men's basketball game to be played at the Stokes Center. SFU dropped to 5-6 in the Northeast Conference with a “tail of two halves” performance on Thursday night in an 86-79 loss vs. Central Connecticut State. The Red Flash scored just 16 first half points to tie a season low, but then exploded for 63 second half points in nearly coming back from a 29-point deficit. Saint Francis' 63 second half points were the most for the program in any half in more than a decade. Bryant also enters with a 5-6 league mark after a 91-38 setback at Robert Morris. The Bulldogs have lost three of their last four games. Saturday afternoon's game can be heard 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 feed will be available via Red Flash All-Access at www.SFUathletics.com.
Hall of Fame Induction
Saint Francis will induct 12 individuals and two teams into its Class of 2011 Athletics Hall of Fame at the conclusion of Saturday's men's and women's basketball doubleheader. A reception will begin at 5 p.m. with dinner served at 6 p.m., and the induction ceremony set to commence at 7:15 p.m.
On The Horizon
Saint Francis will take part in the Northeast Conference's annual Rivalry Week when it plays a home-and-home series with in-state league foe Robert Morris next week. The Red Flash will head to the defending Northeast Conference champion for a 7 p.m. battle on Wednesday, and will then play host to the Colonials at 8:30 p.m. next Saturday on TV. That game will be broadcast on FSN-Pittsburgh, FCS, ESPN3 and ESPN Full Court.
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. The area comprising modern-day Smithfield was first settled in the 17th century by British colonists as a farming community and named after Smithfield, London. The area was within the boundaries of Providence until 1731 when Smithfield was incorporated as a separate town. There was an active Quaker community in early Smithfield that extended to north to Uxbridge, in the early 18th century. Bryant University was founded in 1863 as a branch of Bryant and Stratton, a national school which originally taught bookkeeping and methods of business communication. In 1916, the Rhode Island branch was sold and merged with the Rhode Island Commercial School. Bryant became non-profit in 1949 and offered its first master's program in 1969. Bryant was originally located in downtown Providence, but moved to its current campus in Smithfield, when the founder of Tupperware, Earl Silas Tupper, a Bryant University alumnus, donated the current 420 acres of land to be the new campus.
Series vs. Bryant
Saint Francis and Bryant have split each of its first two meetings with both teams winning on the other's home court. The series began with the Bulldogs pulling off a 65-60 victory at DeGol Arena on Jan. 31, 2009. The Red Flash returned the favor with a 60-34 win on Feb. 11, 2010, in Smithfield, R.I. Sophomore Will Felder (Cleveland, OH/Lutheran East Hs) had 10 points and 8 rebounds in that game.
Sizing Up The Bulldogs
Bryant enters Saturday's contest having dropped a 91-38 game at Robert Morris on Thursday night to fall to 7-16 overall, and 5-6 in the Northeast Conference. The Bulldogs have lost three of their last four games, and have a 2-9 record on the road this season. Bryant ranks seventh in the NEC in scoring (65.6 ppg), last in scoring defense (74.3), 11th in scoring margin (-8.7), and first in 3-point field goals made (8.13/gm).
Inside The Box Score
Saint Francis dropped its second straight game when it suffered and 86-79 setback on Thursday night vs. Central Connecticut State. Here is an in-depth look and some notes from the box score:
- Saint Francis tied a season-low with 16 first half points, but rallied for a season-high 63 points in the second half. The 63 points are the most for a Red Flash team in ANY?half of basketball since they scored 62 in a 96-89 win over Monmouth on Feb. 16, 1989.
- SFU had 28 field goals, second-most on the season (33 at Sacred Heart, 1/27/11).
- Saint Francis was 19-of-24 (.792) at the free throw line with the 19 free throws tying the third-most in a single game this season.
- The Red Flash scored 79 points, the most CCSU had given up in the past 16 games. Just two other teams (Army and Providence) had surpassed 78 points against the Blue Devils this season. CCSU entered the game with the top scoring defense (59.8 ppg) in NEC games this year. The Blue Devils still lead the league, but their scoring defense fell to 61.5 ppg after surrendering 79 points.
- CCSU made 35-of-45 free throw attempts (.778). The 35 FTM and 45 FTA were both season highs for an opponent.
- The Red Flash were out-rebounded (33-32) for the second straight game, and for the 13th time in 22 games.
- SFU reached double digit assists (14) for the seventh straight game, and for the 18th time in 22 games.
- Saint Francis had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio (14-to-12) for the third time in the last four games.
- The Red Flash recorded at least two blocks (3) for the ninth straight game.
- Sophomore Umar Shannon (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) led the Red Flash in scoring (27) for the 11th time this season, and has led Saint Francis in six of the last seven games. His 27 points marked the fifth time in the last six games that he has surpassed 20 points. Shannon also tied a career-high with 10 free throws made on 10 attempts, and scored his 500th career point (513)
- Sophomore Will Felder (Cleveland, OH/Lutheran East Hs) had 18 points, 8 boards and 2 blocks. His two blocks gave him 55 during his career, just three shy of moving into Saint Francis' all-time Top-10. He recorded his 300th career rebound (306) against the Blue Devils.
- Sophomore Chris Johnson (Newport News, Va./Denbigh) had 11 points, tied a season high with 8 assists and had a season-high 4 steals. He surpassed his rookie season total of 87 and now has 88 in 22 games this year. He is one steal shy of his rookie total of 36.
- SFU's five sophomores accounted for 64 of 79 points and all 14 team assists in the loss versus CCSU.
Home Sweet Home
The Red Flash have a .696 winning percentage at DeGol Arena over their last 23 games (16-7 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 Thursday night, but has won 11 of its last 14 at home. Saint Francis will play host to Bryant in the facility's 500th men's basketball game on on “Hall of Fame Day” at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
One Point Wins
After defeating Bucknell, 68-67, by one point on Nov. 20, 2010, the Red Flash improved to 19-10 all-time in one-point games at DeGol Arena. Saint Francis has a 308-190 record (.619) overall all-time at DeGol Arena, which opened in 1972-73.
Double Digit Wins
The Red Flash won four straight home games (Jan. 13 - Jan. 22) by double digits, marking the first time they accomplished that in Northeast Conference play. SFU last won four straight games by 10-or-more points during the 1977-78 season when it defeated FDU-Madison, SUNY-Buffalo, Catholic and Point Park. Saint Francis has not won five straight by double digits since the 1968-69 season.
Inside The Winning Streak
During Saint Francis' recent five-game winning streak, sophomore Umar Shannon (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) averaged 22.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 2.6 apg. He was 34-of-61 (.557) from the floor, 16-of-32 (.500) from long distance, and 29-of-35 (.829) from the stripe. The Red Flash entered the five-game stretch without reaching 70 points on the season, but produced the team's five highest scoring outputs (70, 69, 75, 86 and 88). Likewise, Saint Francis held its opponents to its three lowest scoring outputs on the 2010-11 season (54, 55 and 56). Against LIU, the Red Flash won for the first time this season when an opponent scored 70-plus points. Over the five games, Saint Francis was 129-of-263 (.490) from the field, 36-of-84 (.429) from outside the arc, and 94-of-120 (.783) from the foul line. Six SFU players averaged 8.2 ppg or more during the streak. Sophomore point guard Chris Johnson (Newport News, Va./Denbigh) had a 33-to-10 assist-to-turnover ratio during the streak. Saint Francis last won five straight games during the 1993-94 season. SFU has not won six straight games since the 1990-91 NCAA Tournament season.
