BOX SCORE Teaneck, N.J. - Sophomore guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./The Lawrenceville School) put on another dazzling performance in a Red Flash uniform with 27 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals as the Saint Francis men's basketball team (17-11, 11-6) clinched at least a top three seed and home Quarterfinal game in the NEC Tournament with a 90-82 victory at Fairleigh Dickinson.

Krimmel's Reaction

I thought we lacked the defensive urgency that we have played with over the last three games to start this game," said head coach Rob Krimmel. "FDU executed its offense and knocked down shots and it put us in a hole. I am thrilled with the way our guys fought through it. We got big-time minutes from a number of different guys and were able to get in a stance and get stops when we needed them in the second half."

Turning Point

The Knights made 12 of their first 18 shots to lead 30-18 with 10:58 left in the first half. Senior Daniel Wallace (Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River) entered the game and gave Saint Francis five quick points to start a run. The Red Flash would use the infusion of energy to finish the half on a 29-13 run and lead 47-43 at the half.

Saint Francis continued to increase the margin in the second half, building an 86-71 lead after a fade away jumper by junior Jamaal King (Salisbury, Md./Bishop O'Connell (Va.)). FDU made one final run at Saint Francis, cutting it to 86-80 with 1:40 to play. Freshman Mark Flagg (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury), who grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds in the win, pulled down two critical offensive boards in the next possession, leading to two free throws by Braxton and deflating the home Knights.

Inside the Box Score

• Saint Francis shot 51.7% (30-58) from the field while the Knights made 26-59 (44.1%) of its field goals, but just 12-31 (38.1%) in the second half.
• Saint Francis made 8-19 (42.1%) of its three-pointers behind 5-10 from behind the arc by junior Andre Wolford (Willowick, Ohio/Saint Ignatius). Fairleigh Dickinson finished the game 9-19 (47.4%) from three.
• SFU knocked down 22-29 (75.9%) of its free throws, while the Knights hit 21-23 (91.3%).
• The Red Flash owned the backboards, 37-29.
• Saint Francis tied its season-high with six blocks. Flagg and Braxton each collected two.
• SFU outscored the Knights 30-24 in the paint and 12-3 in second-chance points.

Notes

• The trio of Braxton, Wolford and King combined for 67 points. Braxton led with 27 followed by Wolford's 21 and King's 19.
• SFU ties its longest win streak of the season with four straight. 
• At the conclusion of Thursday's results, SFU can do no worse than the three-seed. The Red Flash will claim the two-seed with a win on Saturday and a Mount St Mary's loss vs. first-place Wagner.
• SFU tied its conference win total from last season with 11 and its total wins with 17.
• Six players scored five points or more. 

Up Next

Saint Francis concludes its regular-season home vs. Robert Morris on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m.