FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Saint Francis men's basketball team will look to rebound from its first conference loss of the season when it travels to Sacred Heart for a Saturday afternoon contest at the Pitt Center. The game will begin at approximately 3:30 p.m. following the conclusion of the Red Flash women's meeting with the Pioneers.
The Flash lost Thursday night at Bryant, 80-54, in SFU's first road NEC game of the season. The Flash shot just 34.6 percent from the field and 55 percent from the line. Earl Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) and Ollie Jackson (Dallas, Texas/Pinkston ) led the Flash with 12 points apiece. Ronnie Drinnon (Jamestown, Ohio/Greenview) had a game-high 11 rebounds.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
1. Drinnon's 11 rebounds at Bryant gave him five double-digit rebounding games in his last six.
2. Senior forward Earl Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) claimed the NEC Co-Player of the Week for his performance in three games last week. He averaged 18.3 points and added 7.7 rebounds.
3. The Red Flash fell to 2-5 in games where it makes seven three pointers or less. The Flash is 6-1 with eight or more. SFU made seven at Bryant.
BOUNCING BACK
The Flash has been excellent in games following a loss so far this season. SFU moved to 4-1 in games following a loss this season with its win over Wagner. The Flash will look to bounce back after its loss at Bryant Thursday. The Flash will have the sunlight on its side. SFU is 5-0 in afternoon games so far this year.
O.J. TASTES GOOD
Ollie Jackson (Dallas, Texas/Pinkston ) scored 12 points at Bryant, including 11 in the first half as he reached double figures in scoring for the fifth straight game. Jackson went 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, including a three pointer just before the first half buzzer than sent the Flash into halftime trailing by just five points. Bryant had an 11-point lead just a few minutes prior.
HOLDING ON TO THE BALL
The Flash committed just seven turnovers at Bryant, marking the ninth time this season that Saint Francis has forced more turnovers than it has committed. Despite Thursday's loss, the general results have been positive when SFU wins the turnover battle. The Red Flash is now 6-3 in those games.
DRINNON BACK IN DOUBLE FIGURES
Ronnie Drinnon (Jamestown, Ohio/Greenview) took a break from his double-digit rebounding streak with eight against Robert Morris, but the junior came back with 11 more rebounds against Bryant. Drinnon has at least 10 rebounds in five of his last six games and is averaging 12 rebounds per game in that stretch.
PUTBACKS
- The past three meetings between the Red Flash and Pioneers have been decided by four points or less. The Flash is 2-1 in those games.
- Bryant shot just five free throws on Thursday night, making four. In the Flash's win over Navy in November, the Midshipmen also only attempted five free throws. Those games are the season lows for an opponent. The Flash had its season low from the line at Texas, attempting just five free throws.
