BOX SCORE
HAMDEN, Conn. (Feb. 23, 2012) – The Saint Francis University men's basketball team fell on the road Thursday to Quinnipiac, 77-44, eliminating SFU from post season contention.
The Red Flash (6-22, 5-12) could not complete the season sweep of the Bobcats (16-12, 9-8) thanks to a red hot shooting second half by Quinnipiac. The Bobcats connected on their first 12 shots of the second half and placed SFU in a hole it could not recover from.
Scott Eatherton led the Red Flash with 16 points but only one other SFU player had more than five in the game. Quinnipiac had four players in double figures led by Dave Johnson and his 19.
The game started with both teams using a slow half court look while using their inside games to pick up points. However following the first media timeout, Quinnipiac came out with a full court pressure look in an effort to create turnovers and easy looks. Quinnipiac, who entered the game second in the nation in rebounding and first in offensive rebounding, shot the ball well early and did not have rely on its second chance points. The Bobcats received great play inside early from Ike Azotam and Ousmane Drame, who both put their hook shots in the lane on display. Combined with pressure defense in the half court set, Quinnipaic opened up a 28-17 advantage by the 3:54 mark of the first half. The Bobcats rode their solid defense and hot shooting to a 35-20 halftime lead and allowed SFU just one field goal over the final 8:34.
Quinnipiac stormed out of the locker room on a 23-8 run to push the Bobcat advantage to 30. Hot shooting fueled the run as Quinnipiac connected on their first 12 shots of the half and turned the ball over just once in its first 13 possessions. The Red Flash could not overcome the huge advantage and Quinnipiac cruised to the win.
Saint Francis returns to action Saturday in its regular season finale with a noon tipoff against Sacred Heart. The game will be broadcast live on MSG+ and FCS, fans can also see the game on tape delay Feb. 29 on Root Sports at 6 p.m.
GAME NOTES
- SFU struggled shooting the ball in the first half going just 7-for-20 (35-percent) while the Bobcats flourished going 15-of-27 (55.6-percent) from the field.
- Quinnipiac did not miss a shot in the second half until the 10:56 mark. On their first 13 possessions of the second stanza the Bobcats tallied 12 baskets and one turnover.
- For the game Quinnipiac shot 58.6-percnet from the field while also attempted 11 more shots from the field than the Flash.
- The 44 points are the fewest for SFU in a conference game this season and the third fewest for the Flash in any game this season. The 33 point loss is the largest for SFU this season and the first time the Flash have loss by 30 or more since falling to Bucknell on Nov. 19.
- The Flash dressed just nine players for the fifth time this season as reserve guard Matthew Mazzara was sidelined for the second consecutive game with a hand injury.
