SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Saint Francis men's basketball team endured a cold shooting night at Bryant as the Red Flash dropped its first conference game of the season to the Bulldogs, 80-54, Thursday night at the Chace Athletic Center. Earl Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) and Ollie Jackson (Dallas, Texas/Pinkston ) each scored 12 points to lead the team while Ronnie Drinnon (Jamestown, Ohio/Greenview) recorded double digit rebounds for the fifth time in six games, finishing with 11.

The Flash (8-6, 2-1) got off to a slow start, hitting just one field goal in the first six minutes. But the Flash played strong defense early and it had the score tied at 10-10 on two Malik Harmon (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King) free throws with 12:47 to play. Jackson scored 11 points in the first half, including five straight to pull the Flash to within a point, 20-19, with 7:24 left. Bryant had built its lead to 11 at its largest point with 2:32 remaining, but Jackson's three pointer just before the buzzer sent SFU into the locker room down by just five, 37-32.

Saint Francis shot just 40 percent in the first half and 53.8 percent from the line (7-for-13), but the Flash went 5-for-10 from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes.

Bryant shot over 55 percent in the first half, and the Bulldogs pushed that number to 58.6 percent in the second half. Just as importantly, Bryant shot 53.8 percent from three-point range in the second half, making seven of its 13 attempts. Brown scored the first four points of the half for the Flash, and his layup with 14:06 to play brought the Flash to within 45-39. The Flash would come no closer. Bryant went on an 8-0 that included two of those seven three pointers to push the lead to double digits. Bryant played with the double-digit lead for the final 13:19 with SFU unable to string together a run of its own.

Bryant finished the game shooting 56.9 percent to Saint Francis' 34.6 percent.

The Flash was looking for its first 3-0 start in NEC play since 2002-03. The team will look to get back on track Saturday afternoon at Sacred Heart. The game is set for a 3:30 p.m. start as the nightcap of a doubleheader after the Red Flash women take on the Pioneers.