Loretto, Pa. – The Saint Francis men's basketball team (5-8, 1-1 NEC) hits the road for a two-game set in New York at LIU Brooklyn on Thursday, Jan. 10, and St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday, Jan. 12.

Live Thursday: Watch | Live Stats

Scouting LIU Brooklyn
 
The Blackbirds are the defending NEC champions and sit 7-7 overall and 1-1 in league play.  A third team All-NEC selection as a junior, Raiquan Clark has emerged as a superstar his senior year. Clark currently leads the NEC in scoring at 20.6 ppg while shooting 51.5% from the field. UMass transfer Ty Flowers has been a nice sidekick to Clark. The 6'9" lefty is second on the team in scoring at 13.2 ppg and leads the team with 7.1 rpg. Point guard Jashaun Agosto averaged 15.0 ppg against the Red Flash in two meetings last season and is back at the controls of the Blackbirds offense. LIU Brooklyn leads the NEC in made 3PT FGs per game (8.79) and blocked shots per game (4.57).
 
Series History
 
LIU Brooklyn leads the series 38-37 after each team protected its home court with wins last season. Junior Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./Delsea) averaged 18.0 ppg and 12.5 rpg in the two contest vs. the Blackbirds last season. 
 
Live Saturday: Watch | Live Stats

Scouting St. Francis Brooklyn
 
The Terriers own the best overall winning pct. in the conference (.600) through last weekend's results with a 9-6 record and 1-1 record in NEC action. The Terriers are led by the backcourt trio of Glenn Sanabria, Jalen Jordan and Chauncey Hawkins. Jordan, an NEC All-Rookie selection in 2017-18, paces the Terriers with a scoring average of 15.9 ppg. He is deadly from three-point range, shooting a league-best 45.7% from behind the arc.  Sanabria, a poised veteran senior is averaging 11.7 ppg as is Hawkins in 15 games off the bench. The Terriers have been stout defensively, holding opponents to  just 69.9 ppg and 29.0% shooting from three-point range.
 
Series History
 
The Red Flash increased its series lead over St. Francis Brooklyn to 44-38 with a 2-0 record last season.  Senior Jamaal King (Salisbury, Md./Bishop O'Connell (Va.)) averaged 26.0 points per contest vs. the Terriers in the wins.
 
Focus on the First Half
 
The statistics back the importance of a good start. Saint Francis is 5-1 when leading at halftime and 0-8 when it trails. This was again the case this weekend as SFU stormed out to a 15-point first half lead against Mount St. Mary's and led by seven at the break. The red Flash trailed by 16 at the half to Fairleigh Dickinson and never got any closer than the halftime deficit. The lone exception to the rule came on Dec. 22 at Lehigh when the Red Flash relinquished a six-point halftime lead in an 88-76 loss.
 
Defense Holds the Key
 
Saint Francis's inconsistencies on the defensive end have led to inconsistencies in results. The Red Flash has allowed its opponents to shoot over 50.0% from the field in six games, going 0-6 in such contests. On the contrary, SFU has held opponents under 40.0% from the field in five games, going 5-0. When SFU opponents have shot 40.0% or better they are a combined 8-0.