Loretto, Pa. - Junior guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./Delsea) scored the go-ahead basket with 26 seconds to play, part of his season-high 25 points, as the Saint Francis men's basketball team (3-4) defeated Niagara (2-4) 79-75 on Friday night. Braxton finished three assists shy of a triple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.

Krimmel's Reaction

"Our group needed that game," said head coach Rob Krimmel. "As much as I'd love to win every game by 20 points, this group hasn't had a game come down to the final minute so it was good to see us execute in crunch time. Niagara made a great run at us but we stayed together as a team, followed our roles, and came out with a great team win."

Turning Point

With the game in the balance, Saint Francis turned rode the hot hand in Braxton. Tied at 75-75, Braxton penetrated the lane with the shot clock winding down, came to a jump stop, and floated the ball over two Niagara defenders off the glass for a 77-75 lead. On Niagara's ensuing possession, Braxton soared for his twelfth rebound after sophomore Mark Flagg (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) altered a baseline runner. Braxton knocked down two clutch free throws from the line with 9.8 seconds to make it a two-score game and secure the win for the Red Flash.

First Half Summary

Saint Francis turned its defense into offense in the first half, racing to a 17-point lead after a free throw from senior Luidgy Laporal (Petit-Boutg, France/Harcum C.C.) with 8:37 in the half. Niagara regained its poise and battled back to single digits, 32-27, on the heels of an 18-6 run. Saint Francis would go into halftime with a 43-33 lead after senior Jamaal King (Salisbury, Md./Bishop O'Connell (Va.)) beat the first half buzzer with a layup.

Second Half Summary

Niagara made five of its first seven shots and three of its first four three-pointers to open the second half and erase the double digit SFU halftime lead. A Keleaf Tate three-pointer with 14:17 remaining in the game gave the Purple Eagles their first lead since 2-0 at 50-48. From that moment on, it was the Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./Delsea) show as he scored five straight to help SFU regain the lead. Redshirt junior Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte) gave Saint Francis a 73-69 lead with a three-pointer with 2:28 to play but two Niagara three-pointers sandwiched around a Flagg dunk tied the game at 75-75 before Braxton's heroics.

Inside the Box Score

• Saint Francis converted 31-72 (43.1%) shots while holding Niagara to 25-63 (39.7%) from the field.
• The Red Flash continued to struggle from downtown, finishing 5-23 (21.7%). The Purple Eagles made 8-25 (32.0%) of its three-pointers.
• Saint Francis made 12-16 (75.0%) free throws to Niagara's 17-20 (85.0%).
• Saint Francis won the rebounding battle, 42-40. 
• SFU doubled up the Purple Eagles in points in the paint, 52-26. 
• Second chance points favored SFU, 18-9

Notes

• Braxton's big scoring night was his 17th career game with 20 or more points and his first of the season. His seven assists were also a season-high.
• Laporal was the only other SFU player in double figures with a career-high 11 to go with seven rebounds.
• The big man rotation of Laporal, Flagg and junior Deivydas Kuzavas (Kretinga, Lithuania/St. Mary's Ryken (Md.)) recorded 23 points and 13 rebounds. The trio is averaging 221 points and 13.5 rebounds over its last two games.
• King and Blackmon each chipped in with nine points, while King added five assists.
• Saint Francis improved to 3-0 this season at DeGol Arena and 17-3 over its last 20 home games dating back to 2016-17. 

Up Next

Saint Francis will look for its first road win of the season on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at American (4-2) at 7 p.m.