GAME NOTES
On Deck!
Saint Francis will look to break a three-game skid when it plays the first game of a home-and-home series with Robert Morris during Northeast Conference Rivalry Week. The Red Flash travel to Moon Township to take on the Colonials at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night. RMU will make the trip to Loretto for a rare 8:30 p.m. start on Saturday night in a game to be televised on FSN-Pittsburgh, FCS, ESPN3, and ESPN?Full Court. 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.
On The Horizon
The Red Flash return to DeGol Arena for a rare 8:30 p.m. tipoff against rival Robert Morris on Saturday night. The game will be broadcast on FSN-Pittsburgh, FCS, ESPN3 and ESPN Full Court. Matt Harmon will provide the play-by-play, while Pam Roecker will be the color analyst.
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 68th meeting between Saint Francis and Robert Morris. The Colonials have won five straight meetings to take a 39-28 lead in the series, which began in 1977-78. SFU has lost two straight and four of the last five at the Sewall Center. Robert Morris earned 76-67 and 75-63 wins in Loretto and Moon Township, respectively, last season.
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 10-13 overall and 6-6 in the Northeast Conference. RMU is seventh in the NEC in scoring (65.5 ppg), third in scoring defense (66.0 ppg), and first in field goal percentage defense (.414). The Colonials are led by NEC Rookie-of-the-Year (2009-10) Karon Abraham, who averages a team-high 14.8 ppg and has a team high 53 three-pointers and 23 steals. Russell Johnson has a team-high 14 blocks and 7.4 rpg, and is second with 11.5 ppg, while Velton Jones has contributed 11.0 ppg, a team-high 37 steals and 82 assists. The Colonials are coming off an 80-58 loss versus Central Connecticut State on Saturday, and have lost three of their last four games.
Inside The Box Score
Saint Francis dropped its third straight game in frustrating fashion on Saturday after Frankie Dobbs jumper bounced around and into the hoop as the buzzer sounded. Here is an in-depth look and some notes from the box score:
- SFU shot 43.0 percent or better (.460) for the ninth straight game.
- The Red Flash reached double figures in free throws made (18) for the 10th consecutive game.
- Saint Francis made just 5-of-18 three-point attempts (.278), and was 9-of-41 (.220) during the two-game homestand.
- The Red Flash have scored 69 or more points in seven of their last eight games. They entered this eight-game stretch averaging just 58.9 ppg on the season.
- Sophomore Chris Johnson (Newport News, Va./Denbigh) recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 10 assists to go with 4 rebounds and a season-tying 4 steals. Johnson averaged 12.5 ppg, 9.0 apg, 4.0 spg and 3.5 rpg during SFU's two home contests.
- Sophomore Will Felder (Cleveland, OH/Lutheran East Hs) picked up his fourth double-double of the season - and fifth career - with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
- Sophomore Umar Shannon (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) led the Red Flash in scoring for the 12th time this season, and seventh time in the last eight games. He had 16 points and 2 rebounds, and averaged 21.5 ppg while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and a perfect 14-for-14 from the free throw line during the week.
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.
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.
Charity Work
The Red Flash led the Northeast Conference in free throw percentage (.732) a year ago with the sixth-best single-season performance in program history. Head coach Don Friday's squad is at it again. SFU nailed 37-of-45 free throw attempts (.822) in two games last week, and ranks third in the NEC with a 73.9 percent success rate at the line this season.
Block Party
Saint Francis recorded a season-high 10 blocks in its Jan. 22 victory over first-place Long Island, marking the team's highest total since rejecting 10 shots against Morgan State on Nov. 14, 2007. Additionally, sophomore forward Will Felder (Cleveland, OH/Lutheran East Hs) had a career-high 4 blocks in the game against the Blackbirds. SFU is sixth in the NEC with 3.17 bpg this season.
Hershey Kiss
Freshman Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa./Hershey), who is a native of Hershey, Pa., has played a major role with his performance over the past several weeks. He is averaging 8.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 1.5 bpg, and is shooting 70.4 percent (19-of-27) from the field over the last six games. Eatherton led the Red Flash with 11 points and a career-high 3 blocks against Quinnipiac.
Road Warriors
Saint Francis played 12 of its first 15 games on the road, where it has an 1-13 record. SFU played 10 of 11 away from DeGol Arena from Nov. 24 until Jan. 13. The Red Flash were 2-14 on the road last season, and are 3-39 since a win at Morgan State on Dec. 1, 2008.
