Flash Points:

• SFU men's basketball fell 83-70 against LIU Brooklyn on Saturday at DeGol Arena.
• The Red Flash dropped to 5-10 overall and 2-2 in the NEC.
• SFU was led by Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte)'s 19 points, with Josh Nebo (Houston, Texas/Cypress Lakes) adding 14.
• SFU travels to Robert Morris on Thursday.

LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis men's basketball team fell 83-70 against LIU Brooklyn on Saturday at DeGol Arena.  The Red Flash was outscored 45-30 in the second half as the Blackbirds pulled away.  SFU dropped to 5-10 overall and 2-2 in the NEC, while the Blackbirds improved to 10-7 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
 
Saint Francis was led by 19 points by sophomore Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte), who hit six-of-nine shots and added six rebounds.  Sophomore Josh Nebo (Houston, Texas/Cypress Lakes) contributed 14 points, on 6-of-10 shooting, and three rebounds.  Freshmen Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./The Lawrenceville School) and Randall Gaskins Jr. each had 12 points, with Braxton pulling down six rebounds.
 
The Red Flash hit 23-of-48 shots, making 48 percent of its shots.  However, SFU was just 6-of-17 from three (35 percent).  SFU made 18-of-26 free throw attempts. 
 
LIU Brooklyn was paced by 21 points from senior Jerome Frink, who also had 11 rebounds and hit 10-of-16 shots.  Senior Iverson Fleming had 17 points, on 7-of-11 shots, two rebounds and three assists, while junior Nura Zanna had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
 
The Blackbirds shot 49 percent from the field, hitting 34-of-69 shots.  LIU Brooklyn had a hot second half, making 55 percent of its looks, including four threes.  LIU won the battle on the glass, 42-28, and had 45 points in the paint, bettering SFU's 24.  LIU had 25 second-chance points.
 
The Red Flash held a 40-38 lead going into halftime.  Saint Francis shot 57 percent in the half, hitting 12-of-21 shots, including four threes.  The Red Flash also went 12-of-14 from the free throw line.
 
Braxton led the Red Flash with 11 points in the half, hitting four-of-six shots, and grabbed three rebounds.  Blackmon contributed eight points and four rebounds, with Gaskins Jr. and Angelou had six and five points, respectively.
 
SFU started the half on a short 7-2 run in the opening 3:21, with four points from sophomore Josh Nebo (Houston, Texas/Cypress Lakes).  Gaskins Jr. hit a jumper and Blackmon added a free throw.
 
The Red Flash extended its lead to seven, 19-12 with 9:30 remaining in the half, with a 12-5 stretch.  Braxton had five points during that run, including a three, while Angelou also hit from deep.  Gaskins and Blackmon hit jumpers to help the run.
 
However, the Blackbirds responded with a 12-4 run to take their first lead since the opening minutes, 24-23, with 6:41 to go in the half.  Raiquan Clark had four points during the run.  Julian Batts and Raul Frias added threes, while Jerome Frink made a layup.
 
Saint Francis bounced back with a 10-0 run to take a 33-24 lead with 4:31 remaining in the half.  The run started on three free throws by Scott Meredith (Pilot Mountain, N.C./Hargrave Military Academy (Va.)) after he was fouled on a three-point attempt.  Blackmon contributed a three and two free throws, while Braxton had a layup during the run.
 
A 12-4 run helped LIU to cut the deficit to one, 37-36, with 49 second to go.  Clark and Frink each had four points during the run, with Nura Zanna converting a layup and Ashtyn Bradley hitting two free throws.  A three by SFU's Andre Wolford (Willowick, Ohio/Saint Ignatius) stopped the run, but LIU answered with a layup by Jashaun Agosto to close the half.
 
Blackmon netted 11 of his 19 points in the second half, with Nebo adding 10 points.  Fleming led LIU with 15 points in the half, with Frink contributing 13.
 
An 8-2 run by LIU gave the Blackbirds a 47-46 lead within first 4:17 of the second half.  Fleming had six point during the run and Frink added a layup.
 
A few minutes later a 10-4 run by LIU stretched its lead to five, 59-54, with 10:44 to go.  After a free throw by Blackmon put SFU on top, 50-49, Batts answered with a three.  Fleming added a three of his own before Frink hit a pair of jumpers. 
 
After a layup by Nebo stopped that run, LIU started a 13-3 run to take a 72-59 advantage with 5:29 left.  Agosto and Batts each hit threes, with Zanna adding a three-point play and another layup.  Frink added a layup.
 
Nebo scored four straight SFU points, on a dunk and two free throws, to cut the SFU deficit to nine, 72-63, with 4:25 to go.  However, a layups by Frink and Zanna and six points by Fleming helped LIU to maintain a comfortable lead until the final buzzer.
 
The Red Flash returns to action next Thursday, January 12, when it visits Robert Morris for another NEC battle.  Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Sewall Center, with a broadcast on Root Sports Pittsburgh and the MSG Network.