LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis men's basketball team plays its second NEC game of the season on Monday night when it hosts western Pennsylvania rival Robert Morris at approximately 7:00 p.m. The teams met three times last season including a 60-57 Robert Morris victory in an NEC semifinal game last March. The Colonials also won both regular season contests, but both of those games were also decided by single digits. RMU won 73-68 at home in January and defeated the Flash 66-60 in Loretto in February.
Robert Morris also won its NEC opener, defeating Mount St. Mary's 70-45. Senior forward Lucky Jones led the Colonials with 17 points and eight rebounds and was one of four players to score in double figures in the win.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
- Robert Morris leads the all-time series, 48-28, including those three victories over the Flash last season. Saint Francis' last win came during the 2007-08 season at RMU. SFU's last home win over the Colonials came during the 2003-04 season.
- Junior forward Ronnie Drinnon (Jamestown, Ohio/Greenview) had eight more rebounds against Wagner on Saturday to give him an even 50 over his past four games, a 12.5 rebounds per game average.
- The Red Flash hit a season-high 13 three pointers against Wagner, beating the previous mark of 11 set at Navy and matched against Albany.
HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE
The Flash moved to 4-0 at home this season with its 85-68 win over Wagner on Saturday. That's the best start for the program at home since it started 6-0 during the 2003-04 season.
PERIMETER PROWESS
The Red Flash connected on a season-high 13 three pointers in defeating Wagner. Ollie Jackson (Dallas, Texas/Pinkston ) and Dominique Major (Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park) each made four of those. The Flash shot 50 percent (13-for-26) from downtown. That contrasts nicely with the defensive effort against Wagner. The Seahawks went just 3-for-16 from beyond the arc, an 18.8 percentage.
THE MAIN DISH
Saint Francis assisted on 18 of its 28 field goals against Wagner. Point guard Malik Harmon (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King) had six of those assists, tying his career high. SFU was also plus-6 in the assist/turnover margin, tying for the second best mark of the season. The Flash was plus-8 in its win at Navy in November.
BROWN DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Earl Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) scored 20 points and added 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. The senior forward now has 23 career double-doubles.
BOUNCING BACK
The Flash moved to 4-1 in games following a loss this season with its win over Wagner. The Flash had lost at NJIT in its previous game. SFU also moved to 5-0 in games played in the afternoon.
PUTBACKS
- Sophomore Patrick Wrencher (West Chester, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller) finished with a career-high seven points and tied his career high with five rebounds in a career-high 20 minutes off the bench. He also added a block and his first career steal.
- The Flash made 28 field goals in the game: 13 from beyond the arc and 15 in the paint. SFU outscored Wagner on the inside, 30-24.
