BOX SCORE  -  HIGHLIGHTS  -  POSTGAME

LORETTO, Pa. (Feb. 16, 2012) – The Saint Francis University men's basketball team could not complete a second half rally Thursday against Central Connecticut State and fell, 65-60, in DeGol Arena.
 
The Red Flash (5-21, 4-11) took a lead into the half against the Blue Devils (11-14, 8-7) but SFU struggled offensively and could not overcome a second half deficit. Earl Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) became the first SFU freshman in nearly two years to record a double-double as the Red Flash rookie tallied a season-high 19 points and season-high 10 rebounds. Robby Ptacek plagued the SFU all night and CCSU with 22 points and added seven rebounds, the senior also made several key baskets for the Blue Devils when SFU threated. Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) missed his first home double-double by just one rebound as the sophomore tallied 12 points and nine board for the Flash.
 
Saint Francis struggled from the field to start the game, missing the first eight shots until Eatherton ended the drought with a layup inside off a feed from Jon Taylor (Bowie, Md./Montgomery College-Germantown). The Blue Devils played hard pressure defense on the Flash and slowed and frustrated the SFU offense early. Central Connecticut State ran out to a 14-2 lead to start the game and used their depth making substitutions early and often. The Red Flash cut into the Blue Devil advantage with a 19-4 run and took a lead of their own. Brown sparked the Red Flash yet again and put together an excellent first half on the offensive end. The Flash used the run and strong defense down the stretch and took a 34-31 lead into the locker room.
 
The Blue Devils stormed out of the locker and quickly had the game even. The Red Flash continued to battle and SFU continued to get an excellent effort from Brown. The pace slowed as the half continued and possessions were at a premium. The game remained in a tight window until the Blue Devils used a small run to open up an eight-point advantage. Brown cut the led to just four with under two minutes remaining but the Blue Devils responded with a 3-pointer from Ptacek to push the advantage back to seven.
 
Eatherton moved the advantage back to five with a layup inside but following a SFU steal on the inbound Saint Francis could not convert inside. Anthony Ervin (Chesterfield, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) cut lead to just three with a 3-pointer with less than 30 seconds to play. On the ensuing inbounds play, the Red Flash fouled Ken Horton, who missed the front end of the one-and-one giving SFU a chance to tie the game.  However the senior laden Blue Devils and forced SFU into a poor 3-point attempt that did not draw iron and CCSU sealed the game with a pair of foul shots.  
 
The Red Flash wrap up their home slate Saturday with a rare 11:30 a.m. game against the Bryant Bulldogs. The Flash will honor their lone senior Jon Taylor (Bowie, Md./Montgomery College-Germantown) prior to the game.
 
GAME NOTES
- Earl Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) became the first Red Flash freshman to record a double-double since Will Felder (Cleveland, OH/Lutheran East Hs) pulled off the feat back on Feb. 27, 2010.
 
- Brown's double-double is the first for SFU in a home game this season and the first by a player other than Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa./Hershey).
 
- SFU posted its worst 3-point shooting night of the season and connected on just two from behind the 3-point arc on 18 attempts.
 
- The Red Flash connected on their first eight free throws but missed two of their final four with less than five minutes remaining.
 
- Ollie Jackson (Dallas, Texas/Pinkston ) struggled from the field going 0-for-7 and 0-of-6 from behind the 3-point arc. It is just the fifth-time the SFU freshman has been shutout.
 
- The Red Flash bench did not tally a point for the first time this season. As a unit the SFU reserves went 0-of-9 from the field with three rebounds and four turnovers.