Highlights

Loretto, Pa. - Redshirt senior Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte) picked a great time to net a career-high 28 points, leading the Saint Francis men's basketball team (2-2) to a dramatic 79-76 victory over American (1-3) on Saturday night in SFU's home opener.

Krimmel's Reaction

"We found a way to get it done," said head coach Rob Krimmel. "American made tough shots in the second half and we struggled to get stops. It's always nice to have guys like Keith (Braxton) and Isaiah (Blackmon) who you can turn to at the end of games."

How It Happened

The Red Flash led 65-59 after a Blackmon breakaway dunk with 7:08 to go before American went on a 13-1 run to lead 72-66. Blackmon's corner three with 2:32 to play cut the deficit in half but American pushed it to five. Senior Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./Delsea) got to the foul line on the next two possessions, sinking all four to pull SFU within one at 74-73 with 1:19 left. Saint Francis forced a stop and Blackmon secured the rebound then scored on the other end as SFU was back in front but it was short-lived as American's Sa'eed Nelson answered with a layup to give the Eagles a 76-75 lead with 25 seconds left. With the final seconds ticking down, Braxton showed his maturity, pump faking a shot and drawing contact with the defender who bit on the shot fake to earn three free throws down a point with three seconds left. He made the first two then missed the third but redshirt sophomore Tyler Stewart (Silver Spring, Md./St. Andrew's Episcopal) tipped in the miss as time expired for the 79-76 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Saint Francis led 38-30 at the half thanks to 15 points from Blackmon, seven from Stewart and six from redshirt freshman Bryce Laskey (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands).
• Both teams shot it well from the field as SFU finished 29-58 (50.0%) and American 28-57 (49.1%).
• Both teams did damage from behind the arc. American hit 13-23 (56.5%) threes and the Red Flash connected on 7-13 (53.8%).
• SFU went 14-19 (73.7%) from the free throw line to American's 7-9 (77.8%).
• American edged SFU on the boards, 33-30.
• SFU turned the ball over just eight times while forcing 12. 
• The game featured five ties and 10 lead changes.

Notes

• Blackmon bested his previous career-high of 26, set last season at Bryant, for his 13th carere game with 20 or more points. He is 30th on the program's scoring list, passing John Bodner.
• Braxton finished with 19 points and five rebounds, going 5-10 from the floor and 8-10 from the free-throw line.
• Stewart added 11 points on 4-8 shooting.
• Laskey, in his first career game at DeGol Arena, knocked down 3-4 shots and 2-2 three-pointers for eight points
• Krimmel earned career win No. 99.
• SFU has now won its last eight home openers dating back to the 2012-13 season, Krimmel's first.

Up Next 

Saint Francis looks for three in a row when it hosts Delaware on Tuesday night, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m.