BOX SCORE Brooklyn, N.Y. - A sluggish first half put the Saint Francis men's basketball team (13-11, 7-6 NEC) in a 14-point hole and the Red Flash couldn't shoot itself out of it in a 83-67 loss at LIU Brooklyn (13-13, 8-5 NEC). 

Krimmel's Reaction

"I am disappointed with the way we started the game defensively," said head coach Rob Krimmel. "I thought the staff had the team well-prepared but we didn't come out with the energy needed to execute it. We need to put this behind us and come ready to play on Saturday against a good St. Francis Brooklyn team.

Turning Point

For the second game in a row the Red Flash were held under 40% from the field. SFU hit just 35.3% of its shots in the first half and trailed 45-31 at the break. Sophomore Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./The Lawrenceville School) tried to keep SFU in it with 22 points on 8-12 shooting but SFU couldn't get any closer than nine in the second half.

Inside the Box Score

• Saint Francis made 25-of-67 (37.3%) shots, just the third time this season it has been held under 40% from the floor, but the second in two games. The Blackbirds hit 33-of-64 (51.6%) of its shots.
• Saint Francis made 5-21 three-pointers (23.8%) while LIU Brooklyn knocked down 6-of-17 (35.3%) from behind the arc.
• SFU entered the game No. 1 in the NEC in free throw percentage and 18th nationally, but made just 12-23 (52.2%) from the charity stripe on Thursday. The Blackbirds were 11-13 (84.6%) from the line.
• LIU Brooklyn beat the Red Flash on the glass, 48-33.
• Saint Francis won the turnover battle 16-6.
• The Blackbirds scored 50 of their 83 points in the paint while SFU scored 40 of its 67 in the paint. 

Notes

• Braxton registered his 12th double-double of the season with 22 points and 11 rebounds. 
• If you take out Braxton's offensive performance, the rest of the team shot 17-of-55 (30.9%) from the floor and 2-of-17 (11.8%) from three.
• Saint Francis scored 70 points or more in 17 of its first 22 games but has been held under that mark in three of its last five.
• The Saint Francis bench accounted for 23 of its points.
• Freshman Mark Flagg (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) notched eight points and five rebounds off the bench.

Up Next

Saint Francis wraps up its Brooklyn trip at St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday at 4 p.m.