Saint Francis Media Notes
LORETTO, Pa. - The Saint Francis men's basketball team returns to action Saturday night against American at 7 p.m. The game, originally scheduled for 2 p.m., was moved to a night game to accomodate Red Flash fans who wish to see the Saint Francis football team's quest for its first NEC Championship Saturday afternoon at Duquesne.
The Red Flash scored 103 points in dispatching Westminster on Tuesday, 103-72. Ben Millaud-Meunier (Montreal, Quebec/Vanier) had a career night with 32 points, six rebounds and five steals - all career highs. Basil Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) also scored a career-high 15 points.
American enters the contest at 0-2 after losses at Rhode Island and against Hampton. The Eagles have been one of the most successful teams in the Patriot League recently, reaching the conference championship game in each of the past two seasons. In 2014, the Eagles defeated Boston U to win the title before losing to Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament. Last year, American lost to Lafayette in the Patriot League finals.
NOTES FROM WESTMINSTER
- The Flash's 103 points are the most since matching that total in a 103-79 victory over LIU Brooklyn in Feb. 1994.
- Along with Millaud-Meunier's 32 points, he tied his career-high with six rebounds and set a career-high with five steals. His previous high in points came against Fairleigh Dickinson in 2013 with 26. The five steals are just one away from moving into a tie for fifth place on the school's single-game steals list.
- Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte) came off the bench in his first collegiate game to record 14 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists.
- The game against Westminster was the first against the Titans since 1968.
- SFU moved to 5-2 in its past seven home openers with the victory.
EARLY NEC STATS LEADERS
- The Red Flash leads the Northeast Conference with a defensive field goal percentage of 39.7.
- Point guard Malik Harmon (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King) leads the NEC and is 33rd in the nation with a 62.5 three-point percentage.
- Josh Nebo (Katy, Texas/Cypress Lakes) leads the NEC with four offensive rebounds per game.
FRESHMAN STARTER
Freshman center Josh Nebo (Katy, Texas/Cypress Lakes) became the second true freshman in three years to earn a start on opening night for the Red Flash. He joins current junior guard Malik Harmon (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King) on that list. In his first game at Notre Dame, Nebo finished tied for second on the team with five rebounds. He also recorded a steal and the team's only block in his 17 minutes of work.
NOVEMBER SUCCESS
Saint Francis won three games in November last season for just the second time in program history. The other came in 1997-98. Last year, the Flash defeated Keystone College, Maryland Eastern Shore and Navy.
POSTSEASON SUCCESS
Last season, the Red Flash became the first team in school history to reach the Northeast Conference Tournament semifinals for the second consecutive season. In each of those two seasons, however, the Flash fell to the top-seeded team. Two years ago, SFU lost at Robert Morris, 60-57. Last season, SFU fell to St. Francis Brooklyn, 62-48. Despite the loss, Saint Francis still earned a bid to the CIT. In a first-round game, the Flash hosted Bowling Green. In that contest, the lead changed hands 13 times and the score was tied on eight occasions before the Falcons left Loretto with a 67-64 victory.
FLASH POINTS
- The Red Flash will face longtime rival Duquesne at the Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown, Pa., on Dec. 12. The two teams have a long history in that building, including a Red Flash win over the second-ranked Dukes in 1955.
- Saint Francis is scheduled to play two games on national television in 2015-16. SFU will face No. 3 Maryland on Big Ten Network on Dec. 4. SFU will also face NEC rival Robert Morris on ESPNU on Feb. 11
ABOUT AMERICAN
The Eagles come to Loretto with an 0-2 record after losing its first two games to Rhode Island and Hampton. American is struggling from the offensive end, scoring just 45 points per game in its first two contests. That said, junior forward Paris Maragkos leads the Eagles with 14 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game. In the first two games, neither American nor its opponents have relied on the three pointer. American has made five three pointers and is shooting 19.2 percent from beyond the arc, and its opponents have made six threes and are shooting 26.1 percent.
American has reached the Patriot League Championship game in each of head coach Mike Brennan's first two years at the helm. The Eagles won the Patriot League Championship in 2014 and returned to the finals last season.
LOOKING AHEAD
SFU hits the road for a pair of games next week following Saturday's contest. The Red Flash faces the Golden Flashes of Kent State on Tuesday before traveling to UMES next Friday. The game against Saint Francis opens a six-game road swing for American that includes trips to VCU, New Hampshire, Mount St. Mary's, Youngstown State and Wagner.
SERIES HISTORY
The teams have met 17 times with American winning 12 and each of the last three. The last time the teams played in Loretto, American defeated the Red Flash, 75-43, during the 2013-14 season. Last year, Eagles won a low-scoring affair, 49-46, in Washington, D.C.
