Saint Francis Media Notes
TV: Fox College Sports; MASN
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LORETTO, Pa. - The Saint Francis men's basketball team returns to action Saturday afternoon to host Mount St. Mary's in NEC action. The game starts at noon and will air live on Fox College Sports and MASN and will be simulcast live online via ESPN3. Saturday is also the annual Sideline Cancer doubleheader. The teams are supporting the Saint Francis chapter of Sideline Cancer. SFU is the first university chapter of the organization in the country. 

The Red Flash will look to bounce back from a 71-59 defeat at the hands of Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday night. Saint Francis found itself in a deep hole in the first half, falling behind by as many as 24 points. The Flash fought back to cut the Knights' lead to eight points on two separate occasions in the second half, but the Knights were able to hold out for the victory.

Four Red Flash players scored in double figures, led by Ronnie Drinnon (Jamestown, Ohio/Greenview)'s 14 points and 11 rebounds. That's Drinnon's fourth double-double in a row and seventh of the season. Greg Brown (Odenton, Md./Archbishop Spalding) (13), Basil Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) (12) and Malik Harmon (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King) (11) all reached double-digit points. 

NOTES FROM FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON

• Fairleigh Dickinson scored 20 points off 11 Red Flash turnovers in the first half. 
• Saint Francis outscored FDU, 34-29, in the second half. 
• SFU was plus-8 in rebounding, its fourth straight game outrebounding an opponent.
• Ronnie Drinnon (Jamestown, Ohio/Greenview)'s four assists in two straight games are a season high.
• SFU's 15 offensive rebounds are the most in a game since grabbing 18 at Maryland last month.

SIDELINE CANCER GAME

Sideline Cancer is an organizational branch of the Greg & Cathy Griffith Family Foundation, based in Hollidaysburg. Fans can support Sideline Cancer by purchasing t-shirts at Saturday's doubleheader against Mount St. Mary's. Proceeds from the 50/50 drawings of both games will also benefit Sideline Cancer. Click the play button on the story photo for a video detailing Sideline Cancer. 

Sideline Cancer Official Website

PREGAME TROPHY PRESENTATION

Saint Francis University director of athletics Bob Krimmel and vice president for advancement Bob Crusciel will present university president Rev. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., with the NBA's Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award on behalf of the SFU Board of Trustees and alumni. The trophy depicts Jack Twyman helping Saint Francis legend Maurice Stokes to his feet during game action. After Stokes was injured during a game in 1958 and incapacitated due to his injuries, Twyman became Stokes' legal guardian until Stokes death in 1970 at the age of 36. 

The Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award is in its fourth year of existence. Previous winners include Chauncey Billups (2012-13), Shane Battier (2013-14) and Tim Duncan (2014-15).

DRINNON MOVING UP REBOUNDING LIST

Ronnie Drinnon (Jamestown, Ohio/Greenview) is just 6 rebounds away from moving into a tie for 18th place on the school's career rebounding list. William Saller (1952-56) currently resides in 18th place with 653 career rebounds. Drinnon has 647 career rebounds. Maurice Stokes is the school's all-time rebounding leader with 1,819 rebounds.

THOMPSON PRODUCES OFF THE BENCH

Sophomore Basil Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) continues to produce for the Red Flash in a reserve role. He's reached double figures in four of the Red Flash's five NEC games and six times overall. Thompson set a career high with nine rebounds at LIU Brooklyn last week, and he followed that with eight more rebounds on Thursday against Fairleigh Dickinson.

RECOVERING ON DEFENSE

The Red Flash atypically allowed five Fairleigh Dickinson three pointers in the first half. There are seven games this season where SFU allowed five or fewer three pointers. But the Flash defense responded in the second half, limiting FDU to 1-for-8 from the arc. FDU started 4-for-6 from three-point range and finished just 2-for-17. 

ABOUT MOUNT ST. MARY'S

Mount St. Mary's is off to a 4-1 start in NEC play after defeating Robert Morris, 76-52, on Thursday night. The Mount's only conference loss came last Saturday at home against Bryant, an 82-79 loss to the Bulldogs in double overtime. 

BK Ashe leads The Mount with a 14.6 points per game average. He's also second on the team with 4.1 rebounds per game. Junior Robinson is the team's other player in double figures, averaging 10.9 points per game. Robinson is also the team's leader in assists, averaging 3.6 per game. Gregory Graves leads the team in rebounding at 5.2 per game. He's also third on the team in scoring at 8.8 points per game.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Flash heads to Bryant and Central Connecticut next weekend. The Mount is in the midst of four straight games on the road. Following Saturday's game with the Red Flash, the Mountaineers head to Sacred Heart and Fairleigh Dickinson next weekend.

SERIES HISTORY

Mount St. Mary's leads the series, 41-30. Saint Francis head coach Rob Krimmel lost his first four matchups with The Mount, but he beat the Mountaineers twice within a week last season. The Flash defeated Mount St. Mary's, 63-60, in the final week of the regular season and followed that with a 73-58 road win in the NEC Tournament quarterfinals.