Loretto, Pa. – The Saint Francis men's basketball team (11-8, 5-3 NEC) has an opportunity to showcase its program on the national stage on Friday when it hosts first-place Wagner (13-6, 6-2 NEC) on ESPNU at 5 p.m. The Red Flash conclude the weekend with a game vs. Sacred Heart on Sunday at 2 p.m.

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Scouting Wagner

The Seahawks, picked third in the NEC Preseason Poll, have lived up to its billing with a 13-6 overall record and a 6-2 record in conference play. Wagner, led by head coach Bashir Mason, gets after it defensively allowing a league-low 67.9 points per game. Teams are shooting a league-worst 39.4% from the field vs. the Wagner defense as it blocks a league-high 4.6 shots per contest. The Seahawks also lead the league in scoring differential with a +5.4 scoring margin. Blake Francis leads Wagner and is third in the NEC in scoring at 18.1 ppg. His backcourt mate, JoJo Cooper chips in with 14.1 ppg and a league-best 6.0 assists per game. Saint Francis will look to keep redshirt junior and Quinnipiac transfer AJ Sumbry off the glass. Sumbry leads the conference in blocked shots (2.32 per game), is third in offensive rebounds per game (2.68) and sixth in total rebounding (6.7 per game.).

Series History
 
The Red Flash lead the series 36-35. Wagner defeated SFU last Thursday 73-64 behind a double-double by JoJo Cooper (17 points and 10 assists). Junior Devin Liggeons added 15 points and 12 rebounds.
 
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Scouting Sacred Heart
 
The Pioneers dropped to 2-6 in league play with losses to Robert Morris and Saint Francis last week. They are led by Joe Lopez at 13.0 ppg and 9.2 rpg and Mario Matasovic at 11.7 ppg and 6.0 rpg. Sacred Heart is a sound defensive unit with good size. The Pioneers own the third-ranked scoring defense (71.7 ppg) and lead the league in rebounding margin (+7.2) but have reached 70 points in just seven of 20 games vs. Division I opponents.
 
Series History
 
Saint Francis is 17-13 all-time vs. the Pioneers, defeating them 73-60 last Saturday. Jamaal King (Salisbury, Md./Bishop O'Connell (Va.)) scored a game-high 21 points in the win while Joe Lopez finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
 
COACHES VS. CANCER
 
The Saint Francis men's basketball staff will participate in Coaches vs. Cancer week in its games at Wagner and Sacred Heart. Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers® Week (January 22-28, 2018) is a nationwide event that unites coaches across the country to raise funds and awareness about the fight against cancer, and promotes the American Cancer Society as a source of inspiration and hope for those facing cancer. While coaching games during the week, coaches wear sneakers with their game attire as a visible reminder about the importance of fighting cancer.
 
FLAGGTASTIC WEEK

Freshman Mark Flagg (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) had his collegiate coming-out-party last week, averaging 13.0 ppg and 4.5 rpg in SFU's two games. The 6-9 forward netted a career-high 18 points at Wagner, 15 of which came in the second half. He followed it up with eight points and five rebounds in a win at Sacred Heart. For the week, he made 10-of-14 (71.4%) shots from the field.
 
WOLFORD ON THE MOVE
 
Saint Francis sharpshooter Andre Wolford (Willowick, Ohio/Saint Ignatius) continues to climb the national ranks in three-point field goal percentage. The 6'2" junior made 6-of-10 three-pointers in SFU's two games last week, improving to No. 2 in all of NCAA Division I at 50.4%. He averaged 15.0 ppg and 6.0 rpg for the week.
 
D-FENCE
 
Saint Francis had one of its top defensive performances of the season in its win at Sacred Heart on Saturday, holding the Pioneers to 40.0% shooting for the game and 60 points overall. The Red Flash held the Pioneers to five points over the game's final 8:24, turning a 55-55 ball game into a 73-60 victory.