BOX SCORE Postgame Media Conference

LORETTO, Pa. (Jan. 5, 2013) – Saint Francis' Earl Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) posted his third consecutive double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds but it was the Bryant Bulldogs that prevailed Saturday, 78-58, at DeGol Arena.

Alex Francis scored 21 points and Dyami Starks had 18 to lead Bryant (9-4) to a 2-0 start in Northeast Conference play.  The Red Flash (1-12, 1-0) dropped its first conference contest.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 22-8 lead when Francis scored on a layup with 6:36 left in the first half. Bryant closed the first half with a 9-3 run to claim a 40-18 halftime advantage.

“I didn't like our energy level to come out,” said SFU coach Rob Krimmel.  “We struggle at times as a team when things don't go exactly [our way], everybody tries to take it on their shoulders to make that play.  I thought we had some guys that played with energy but I didn't think... all 16 guys were very energetic.”

After Bryant extended its lead to a game-high 26 points less than a minute into the second half, the Red Flash snapped out of its game-long funk from the perimeter to trim its deficit to 16 (49-33) with 14 minutes left to play.

With two apiece from Dominique Major (Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park) and Ollie Jackson (Dallas, Texas/Pinkston ), the Flash hit five second-half 3-pointers after connecting on one in the opening period.  The Red Flash outscored Bryant 40-38 in the second half.

“We picked up the tempo a little bit, we pressed, which obviously we needed to do to try to get back into the game,” said Krimmel.  “Our guys battled.  Our challenge is we can't dig ourselves such a deep hole to a team like that.”

Saint Francis cut the Bulldog lead to 15 with 2:24 to play on Major's second 3-pointer.  The Flash shot 38 percent (21 of 55) from the floor for the game. Bryant shot 54 percent (27 of 50).

Umar Shannon (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) led Saint Francis with 11 points and dished out a game-high-tying five assists.  Rookie Stephon Mosley (Harlem, N.Y./Seton Hall Prep) chipped in 10 to go along with five boards.

Frankie Dobbs scored 11 points and had four assists, but also had six turnovers for the Bulldogs. Joe O'Shea pitched in with 10 points and Francis had seven rebounds.