BOX SCORE  -  POSTGAME  -  HIGHLIGHTS

LORETTO, Pa. (Jan. 12, 2012) – The Saint Francis men's basketball team saw its three-game home winning streak end Thursday with a, 71-68, loss to Sacred Heart.
 
Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) fired a 35-foot 3-point shot as time expired but the sophomore hit the back of the rim and the Red Flash (3-13, 2-3) saw their three-game home winning streak end at the hands of the Pioneers (8-10, 2-3). Jon Taylor (Bowie, Md./Montgomery College-Germantown) led the SFU offensive attack with a NEC career-high 13 points, while also collecting seven rebounds. Anthony Ervin (Chesterfield, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) also added 14 including two big late 3-point baskets. Shane Gibson led the way for Sacred Heart with 26 points going 9-of-12 from the field.  
 
Saint Francis started the game slow and connected on just one of its first eight shots, which allowed Sacred Heart to run out to an early 9-4 lead. The Red Flash responded with tough pressure defense that did yield some easy shots but also generated turnovers. Kameron Ritter led the pressure and posted five first half steals against the Pioneers. Sacred Heart used a pair of back-to-back 3-point baskets to open up a six point advantage and break the near deadlock. Saint Francis closed the gap with a 10-5 run to end the half, SFU looked like it might take a lead into the locker room but Stephon Whyatt (Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep)'s shot at the buzzer was waved off. The ruling confirmed by replay and gave Sacred Heart a 35-34 halftime lead.
 
The second half was played in a tight 10 point window for the first 12 minutes with neither team opening up more than a five point advantage. The teams traded baskets at a wild pace with both teams looking to take advantage of the other in transition. Sacred Heart opened up the biggest lead of the game thanks to a 14-3 run, that turned a three points SFU lead into an eight point Pioneer lead with 7:57 left in regulation.
 
The Red Flash battled back and completed a rally to tie the game with a layup for Ritter with 2:28 left in the game but Sacred Heart quickly responded with five consecutive points from Phil Gaetano. Ervin came up big for the Red Flash connecting on two 3-pointers in the final 1:30 to bring the lead down to just one. SFU fouled with three and half seconds left and Gibson connected on both for the Pioneers. SFU inbounded to Eatherton, who fired a 3-point attempt from 35 feet that hit the back rim.
 
The Red Flash return to action Saturday with a 4 p.m. tipoff against the Quinnipiac Bobcats.
 
GAME NOTES
- Kameron Ritter posted five first half steals after enter the game with a career high of three steals. Ritter finished the game with six total steals.
 
- The two last 3-pointers for Anthony Ervin (Chesterfield, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) were his first two field goals of the game prior to the first attempt the SFU junior had been 0-5 from the field.
 
- Jon Taylor (Bowie, Md./Montgomery College-Germantown) posted a Saint Francis career-best in an NEC game 13 points, while also collecting seven rebounds.
 
- Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) saw his streak of double-doubles end at two but just barely as the sophomore totaled 11 points and nine rebounds.
 
- The loss ends a streak of three consecutive home wins and back-to-back wins against Sacred Heart. It is the first loss for SFU against the Pioneers since Feb. 14, 2009.
 
- After two consecutive games without an assists, Stephon Whyatt (Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) posted four assists.