BOX SCORE  -  HIGHLIGHTS  -  POSTGAME

LORETTO, Pa. (Jan. 14, 2012) – The Saint Francis men's basketball team recovered from a slow start to knock off Quinnipiac, 74-71, Saturday in DeGol Arena.
 
Kameron Ritter posted a career-high 24 points and tied a career-high with five assists to lead the Red Flash (4-13, 3-3) to win against the Bobcats (9-8, 2-4) snapping a six-game losing streak. Ike Azotam posted an efficient 28 points going 13-of-18 from the field but it was not enough to lift Quinnipiac. Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) added 21 for the Flash with 12 coming in the first frame.  
 
SFU started slow hitting just one of their first seven shots but then heated up hitting four of its next six from the field.  Quinnipiac continued to attack and opened up an eight-point lead less than five minutes into the game but SFU refused to go away and continued to battle. Ritter caught fire in the first half and connected on five of his six shots while going 3-of-4 from the behind the arc. SFU took the lead on a 3-pointer from Eatherton but could not put any distance between themselves and the Bobcats. Ritter connected on a traditional three-point play just before the half to SFU a 38-37 advantage at intermission.
 
The Red Flash refused to surrender their lead in the second half but only extended it to as many as seven. Both teams battled hard in a very physical contest. The Red Flash received great play inside from Eatherton, Jon Taylor (Bowie, Md./Montgomery College-Germantown) and Tony Peters (Roselle, N.J./Seton Hall Prep). Ollie Jackson (Dallas, Texas/Pinkston ) also committed to making a strong effort in rebounding, recording a career-high five boards. Saint Francis also started to return to its hot shooting form and went 13-of-23 (56.6-percent) from the floor in the second half. The Flash used excellent ball movement to create the easy looks. The Red Flash held on to their lead late thanks to clutch free throw shooting from Ritter, who scored the team's final four points from the line. Quinnipiac had the ball in the final seconds but smothering defense prevented the Bobcats from putting up a last second attempt.       
 
The Red Flash return to action and the road Thursday when they travel to West Long Branch, N.J. for a showdown with the Monmouth Hawks.
 
GAME NOTES
- SFU posted a 12-4 assist-to-turnover ratio in the first half with Kameron Ritter, Ollie Jackson (Dallas, Texas/Pinkston ) and Stephon Whyatt (Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) all posting three first half helpers. SFU finished the game with a 21-15 assist-to-turnover ratio.
 
- Ritter entered the game with shooting 8-percent from behind the 3-point arc with just one make on the season. The junior connected three in the first half going 3-for-4.
 
- Ritter tied a career-high with five assists while also posting a career high 24 points. The junior guard scored or assisted on 12 of SFU's 28 baskets.
 
- Jackson posted a career-high five rebounds after recording just seven in his last four games.
 
- The Red Flash became just the second team this season to hold the Bobcats to fewer than 30 rebounds and just the fourth to hold them under 40.
 
- Entering the game SFU ranked 328th nationally in rebounding margin but outrebounded a Quinnipiac team ranked fourth nationally in rebounding margin.
 
- SFU held Quinnipiac's leading scorer James Johnson (17.4 ppg) to just eight points in the game a just 3-of-11 shooting.
 
- The Red Flash shot over 50-percent from the field (52.8-percent) for the first time in a game since Dec. 3 against conference foe Fairleigh Dickinson.