Game Notes

Loretto, Pa. – The Saint Francis men's basketball team (6-5) opens up conference play this weekend with games at Central Connecticut State (7-6) on Friday, Dec. 29, and Bryant (1-12) on Sunday, Dec. 31.

Live Stats | Live Video

Scouting Central Connecticut State

After starting the season 0-3, the Blue Devils have won seven of their last 10 games and enter Friday's matchup on the heels of two straight wins. Transfers Tyler Kohl and Deion Bute have rejuvenated a Blue Devils program that won six total games all of last season. Kohl is top 10 in the NEC in scoring (14.3 ppg, 9^th) and rebounding (8.4 rpg, 3^rd) while Bute ranks second in FG% (63.5%) and blocked shots (1.31) and 10^th in rebounding (6.2 rpg). The duo represents half of the CCSU players scoring in double figures as they are joined by Austin Nehls (12.2 ppg) and Mustafa Jones (11.2 ppg). Friday's game will feature two of the top shooting teams in the conference. The Red Flash rank first in field goal percentage (48.1%) and three-point field goal percentage (39.4%), followed by the Blue Devils at No. 2 in both categories (46.5 FG% and 36.6% 3PT%). CCSU owns the NEC's second-ranked scoring defense at 71.5 ppg.

Series History
 
The Red Flash are 18-21 in 39 meetings vs. the Blue Devils. The two schools split the series in 2016-17, each winning on the opponents home court. Coach Krimmel is 7-3 all-time vs. CCSU.
 
Live Stats | Live Video

Scouting Bryant
 
The Bulldogs are 1-12 to open the season with only one of their defeats being by single digits. Bryant played a difficult non-conference schedule but ranks last in scoring offense (65.2 ppg) and scoring defense (83.6 ppg). Adam Grant leads the team in scoring at 15.7 ppg but has missed the last four games with an ankle injury. Ikenna Ndugba is second on the team, averaging 13.5 ppg.
 
Series History
 
Saint Francis went 2-1 vs. the Bulldogs last season, including a 100-78 win in the NEC Quarterfinals. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 9-7.
 
CONFERENCE OPENERS
 
The Red Flash look to run its win streak to four in the conference opener at CCSU on Friday. Saint Francis is 3-2 in its last five conference openers.
 
BRAXTON NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
 
Sophomore guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./The Lawrenceville School), the reigning NEC Player of the Year, garnered his first Player of the Week of his career after averaging 18.0 ppg, 13.5 rpg and 6.5 apg in two games last week. Braxton leads the NEC with six double-doubles and ranks fifth in scoring (17.1 ppg) and second in rebounding (9.1 rpg).
 
WOLFORD TIES THE RECORND
 
Junior guard Andre Wolford (Willowick, Ohio/Saint Ignatius)'s resurgence continues to steal the headlines in Loretto. Wolford matched the 29-year old record for three-pointers in a game, accomplished twice by John Hilvert during the 1988-89 season, with nine in a win over Lehigh. He has made three or more three-pointers in eight straight games and ranks fifth in all of Division I in 3PT FG% (54.3%).
 
OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY
 
The Red Flash rank 36^th in the country in scoring offense and first in the NEC in scoring offense at 83.3 ppg. Saint Francis owns the top marks in the conference in field goal pct. (48.1%), 3 PT FG% (39.4%) and assists (14.0 per game).