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Red Flash Media Notes
Bowling Green Media Notes

LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis Red Flash hosts its first postseason game since 1991 when Bowling Green comes to Loretto for a first round game of the College Insiders.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). It's the first meeting between Saint Francis and Bowling Green.
 
The Red Flash is coming off its second consecutive NEC semifinals appearance, a first in the program's history. Saint Francis finished the regular season with a winning record for the first time in 10 years.
 
Under first-year head coach Chris Jans, Bowling Green (20-11) surpassed the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
 
Tuesday's game at DeGol Arena, slated for a 7 p.m. tipoff, features two teams that lead their respective conferences in scoring defense. The Flash allows just 64 points per game, fewest in the NEC. Bowling Green allows just 61.9 points, fewest in the MAC.
 
"Coach Jans has done a great job in his first year there," Saint Francis head coach Rob Krimmel said. "They're a great defensive team that comes from a conference that is well respected across the country."
 
MAC Defensive Player of the Year and All-MAC First Team selection Richaun Holmes leads the Falcons. He leads the conference in blocked shots and in field-goal percentage and is third in rebounds per game.
 
Tickets are still on sale and will be available at the door.
 
The first 400 Saint Francis students will receive a special St. Patrick's Day-themed Saint Francis basketball t-shirt.
 
THREE THINGS TO KNOW

• Saint Francis' last home postseason game came in a 1991 NCAA Tournament play-in game against Fordham. The Flash won, 70-64.
• As part of an NCAA study, all games in the CIT will use a 30-second shot clock, down from the normal 35 seconds.
• The Flash is 12-24 all-time against teams currently in the MAC.

A POSTSEASON GAME AT DEGOL ARENA

• The Red Flash hosts its first postseason game in 24 years with its CIT First Round game against Bowling Green. Saint Francis defeated Fordham, 70-64, in a NCAA play-in game at DeGol Arena in March 1991. 

HOME COOKIN'

• Saint Francis returns to DeGol Arena, where the team has been nearly unbeatable this season. The Flash finished the year with a 10-2 home record, the best since the 2004-05 season. The only two losses came on a buzzer beater to St. Francis Brooklyn and in overtime to LIU Brooklyn. The Flash also owns a home victory against America East champion Albany.

HALFTIME INDICATORS

• Results from this season's games have followed a very strict pattern. The team leading at halftime in Saint Francis' games has been the eventual winner more often than not. When Saint Francis leads at the intermission, it is 15-3. When the Red Flash trails at halftime, it is 1-12.

HIT THE THREE

• The Red Flash is third in the NEC from beyond the arc, shooting 33.6 percent. The three pointer has been such a big part of the Flash's game that it can count on a good chance of victory when it makes at least eight three pointers. The Flash is 10-3 in games that it makes at least eight threes and just 6-12 with seven or fewer.

GET TO 60

• The Flash is the best defensive team in the NEC, allowing just 64 points per game. That strong defense gives the Flash a chance to win most of its games, regardless of offensive output. The magic number for the SFU offense appears to be 60 points. When the Flash scores at least 60 points, it is 15-5. In games that the offense is limited to 59 or fewer points, SFU is 1-10.

REBOUNDING ADVANTAGE

• The Flash dominated the boards against Mount St. Mary's in the NEC quarterfinals. SFU carried a 37-19 advantage over the Mountaineers on the glass. The 19 rebounds for The Mount are not only the fewest rebounds allowed this season, they are also the fewest allowed by the Flash in the three seasons of Rob Krimmel's head coaching tenure.

EARL BROWN NOTES

• Senior forward Earl Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) was named All-NEC First Team following the regular season. Brown was a Preseason All-NEC selection and was a Second team pick last year. Brown entered the NEC Tournament with a 15.8 points per game average and an NEC-leading 54.8 field goal percentage.
• Brown is the first All-NEC First team selection for the Flash since Devin Sweetney in 2010.
• Brown has 1,357 career points, placing him 14th on the school's all-time scoring list. Brown surpassed Mike Iuzzolino (1989-91) with 12 points in the NEC semifinals at St. Francis Brooklyn. He is three points out of 13th place (Nick Leasure; 1975-79) and four out of 12th (Wilbur Trosch; 1957-60).
• Brown's 784 career rebounds have him 11th on the school's all-time list. Brown surpassed Saint Francis legend Norm Van Lier during the NEC Tournament. He is 13 rebounds shy of Don Falenski and 10th place (797 rebounds; 1955-59).

OTHER NEC TEAMS IN THE POSTSEASON

• The Red Flash is joined in postseason play by Robert Morris and St. Francis Brooklyn. Robert Morris won the NEC title and will face North Florida in the NCAA tournament Wednesday in Dayton. The Terriers play at Richmond in the NIT, also on Wednesday.

CIT FIRST ROUND - All games at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted
Monday, March 16

• New Hampshire at NJIT                                     

 
Tuesday, March 17

• BOWLING GREEN AT SAINT FRANCIS                    
• Eastern Illinois at Oakland                                   
• James Madison at USC Upstate                              
• Norfolk State at Eastern Kentucky                     
• UL-Lafayette at Incarnate Word - 8 p.m.

 
Wednesday, March 18

• UMES at High Point                                        
• Dartmouth at Canisius                                       
• Texas A&M Corpus Christi at Florida Gulf Coast  
• Cleveland State at Western Michigan                   
• Kent State at Middle Tennessee                           
• IPFW at Evansville - 7:05 p.m.
• UNC Wilmington at Sam Houston State - 7:30 p.m.
• Northern Arizona at Grand Canyon - 8 p.m.
• Sacramento State at Portland - 10 p.m.

 
Thursday, March 19

• UT Martin at Northwestern State - 7:30 p.m.