Loretto, Pa. - Redshirt senior A.J. Sumbry hit a go-ahead shot with 1:26 remaining and the Wagner Seahawks (9-9, 4-3 NEC) made all four of its free throws over the final 21 seconds to pull out an 83-79 win over the Saint Francis men's basketball team (7-11, 3-4 NEC) on Thursday night.

Saint Francis was led by junior Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./Delsea), who tied his season-high with 25 points. Redshirt junior Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte) added 12 points and seven rebounds in the loss.

Krimmel's Reaction

"It's always frustrating when you allow an opponent to beat you on the things they do really well," said head coach Rob Krimmel. "We knew coming in that they were going to take a lot of threes and hit the glass and we didn't do a good enough job guarding the three-point line or boxing out and securing rebounds. We did a lot of good things offensively, which allowed us to keep it close, but ultimately the game was won on Wagner's ability to knock down threes and convert second chance points on the offensive glass."

Turning Point

Saint Francis senior guard Jamaal King (Salisbury, Md./Bishop O'Connell (Va.)) tied the game up at 74-74 on a 28-foot three-pointer with 2:25 to play. The Red Flash would force a miss on the next possession but Sumbry hauled in the rebound and converted the put back with a turnaround hook. Senior Luidgy Laporal's (Petit-Boutg, France/Harcum C.C.) jumper on the next possession missed wide and Wagner delivered the knockout punch on a corner three from Romone Saunders with :46 remaining to put the visitors up five. The teams traded free throws and then Blackmon pulled SFU within two on a corner three-pointer with 7.9 seconds but Wagner was able to successfully inbound the ball and drain both free throws to secure the 83-79 win. 

First Half Summary

Saint Francis was sparked by the hot shooting of senior Andre Wolford (North Olmstead, Ohio/Saint Ignatius) in the first half. Wolford scored all 11 of his points over the game's first 20 minutes, knocking down three three-pointers in the half. Saint Francis trailed 30-22 before rattling off an 8-0 run to tie the game at 30-30. Wagner led 36-35 at the break after two free throws with seconds remaining from Elijah Davis.

Second Half Summary

Both teams came out of the locker room scorching hot and i carried over the entire half. Wagner finished the second half 16-of-26 (61.5%) from the field and 5-for-13 (38.5%) from three. Saint Francis made 17-of-29 shots (58.6%) and 6-of-13 (46.2%) three-pointers.

Inside the Box Score

• A game after being held to a season-low 338 points on 18.8% from the field, Wagner shot 27-57 (47.5%) from the field and 12-of-31 (38.7%) from three-point range.
• Saint Francis finished 30-of-59 (50.8%) from the field and 10-of-24 (41.7%) from three-point range.
• Wagner made 17-of-20 free throws (85.0%) to 9-for-13 (69.2%) for the Red Flash.
• Wagner hurt SFU on the backboards. Although the total rebounding numbers were just 33-30, Wagner hauled in 15 offensive rebounds. SFU was also active on the offensive glass with 14 offensive boards and outscored Wagner in second chance points, 22-18.
• Wagner assisted on 17 of 27 made field goals. SFU, led by five from King, finished with 15 assists.
• The Red Flash forced Wagner into 19 turnovers while committing 15.
• Points in the paint favored SFU, 34-24.

Notes

• Braxton recorded his 18th career game with 20 or more points and the second of the season, tying his season-high of 25 set vs. Niagara on Nov. 30.
• With his five assists, King moves into a tie-for-8th in program history in career assists (323). He joins Garrett Farha and Don Graham and is just four shy of former teammate Malik Harmon (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King) for seventh all-time.
• This was SFU's first loss of the season when it shot a higher percentage from the field than its opponent. SFU was 7-0 coming into the game.
• SFU placed four players in double figures (Braxton (25), Blackmon (12), Wolford (11), King (11)) for the first time in seven conference games.
• Sophomore Ramiir Dixon-Conover (Newark, N.J./South Kent) nailed his first three-pointer of his career.
• Wagner led for 32:37 of the 40 minutes. SFU only led for a combined 1:23.
• Saint Francis allowed 47 second half points after allowing 46 to Bryant in the second half of its last game.

Up Next

Saint Francis faces Sacred Heart on Saturday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m.