BOX SCORE

NEW BRITIAN, Conn. (Jan. 5, 2012) – The Saint Francis University men's basketball team dropped its first conference contest of the season Thursday falling on the road at Central Connecticut State, 69-58.  
 
Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) posted career-highs in points (24) and rebounds (12) and earned his first career double-double but it was not enough for the Red Flash (3-11, 2-1) to best the Blue Devils (6-7, 3-0). Kyle Vinales led CCSU with 27 points with 20 coming in the first half. The Red Flash held Ken Horton, the nation's fifth-leading scorer, to just 11 points. Anthony Ervin (Chesterfield, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) posted a solid all-around game with 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.
 
Eatherton led the charge early for SFU scoring the Red Flash's first two eight points with two coming off assists from Ervin. The game started as a duel between Eatherton and CCSU's Vinales, the pair combined to score 21 points in the first 7:34. Both teams continued trading baskets until Saint Francis opened up an 11 point lead with three consecutive 3-point field goals. Ervin used strong defense to generate offense and posted four first half steals, entering the game the junior's career single game high was five swipes.
 
The Blue Devils slowed the Red Flash offense and began chipping away at the Saint Francis lead mostly thanks to a huge first half from Vinales, who scored 20 first half points and give SFU just a one point halftime advantage. Ervin redefined “stat stuffer” in the first half with 11 points, five rebounds, four steals and four assists.
 
Saint Francis put the Blue Devils into the grinder the second half slowing the pace of the game while also playing tight defense and allowing CCSU just one field goal in the first 4:55 in the second stanza. Saint Francis struggled from the field and was forced into a few turnovers keeping SFU from extending its lead.
 
 Robby Ptacek began the second half charge for the Blues Devils and tailed 15 second half points after being held scoreless in the first frame. SFU's offensive struggles were compounded by the Eatherton picking his fourth foul of the game at the 8:27 and being forced to the bench. Stephon Whyatt (Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep)'s fourth quickly followed and the Flash were without their starting forwards, as Jon Taylor (Bowie, Md./Montgomery College-Germantown) also had four (eventually fouling out), and starting point guard for nearly four minutes.
 
Turnovers and foul trouble doomed Saint Francis in a key stretch and lead to easy CCSU baskets allowing the Blue Devils to stretch their advantage. Ptacek sealed the game late going 7-of-9 from the free throw line.
 
Saint Francis returns to action Saturday as the Red Flash cap their five game road trip against Bryant with a 4 p.m. tipoff at Chace Athletic Center.
 
GAME NOTES
- The Red Flash recorded just three 3-point field goals in the first half and they came of three consecutive possessions and were recorded by three difference players.
 
- Saint Francis held the Ken Horton, the nation's fifth leading scorer (21.9 ppg) to just three first half points and just 11 in the game.
 
- After scoring 20 in the first half, Kyle Vinales did not record his first point in the second until the 8:27 mark and scoring just seven second half points.
 
- Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) recorded four or more personal fouls for the seventh time this season and for the fifth time in a road game.
 
- Jon Taylor (Bowie, Md./Montgomery College-Germantown) fouled out for the first time this season. The senior's fifth foul came with 5:29 remaining in the second half.
 
- Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) recorded the first double-double of his career with a career highs in points and rebounds. Last season in the only meeting between SFU and CCSU, Eatherton played just five minutes.
 
- SFU wore its red jersey's for the first time this season.