Washington D.C. - The Saint Francis men's basketball team (7-4) ended 2019 on a high-note with a 78-72 victory over William & Mary (8-5) at the D.C. Hoops Fan Fest Showcase on Sunday and will head into conference play on a five-game win streak. Redshirt senior Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte) led the charge with a game-high 17 points and senior Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./Delsea) followed with 15 points and seven rebounds as Saint Francis outscored the Tribe 63-49 over the final 30 minutes. 

Krimmel's Reaction

"We need to enjoy this one over the break," said head coach Rob Krimmel. "It has been a long time since we've won seven-games before league play and it is something we should be proud of. At the same time, everyone is now 0-0. We will hit the reset button and get ready for our conference opener at Bryant on Jan. 2."

How it Happened

William & Mary scored on its first five offensive possessions and led 23-15 midway through the first half. Redshirt sophomore Tyler Stewart (Silver Spring, Md./St. Andrew's Episcopal) gave Saint Francis a much-needed boost, scoring four straight. From there, the Red Flash defense locked in. A Blackmon three-pointer capped a 9-0 SFU run and gave the Red Flash its first lead of the day. It would extend to 40-36 at the half. 

Saint Francis led by as many as six early in the second half, but the Tribe regained the lead on a Bryce Barnes three-pointer with 9:41 to play. Senior Scott Meredith (Pilot Mountain, N.C./Hargrave Military Academy (Va.)) rattled home a three on SFU's next possession and the Red Flash never relinquished the lead over the final nine minutes. Saint Francis started to get some separation around the seven-minute mark, stretching a 63-62 lead to 69-62 on four points from Stewart and two from junior Mark Flagg (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury). William & Mary had it down to five, 69-64, when Blackmon connected on his third three-pointer of the game to make it an eight-point lead.

Inside the Box Score

• Saint Francis went 28-59 (47.5%) from the floor to William & Mary's 27-54 (50.0%).
• Saint Francis made 7-19 three-pointers (36.8%) to the Tribe's 9-22 (40.9%).
• SFU went 15-21 (71.4%) from the charity stripe while William & Mary connected on just 9-18 (50.0%).
• The Tribe, which features two 6'11" players in its starting five, secured 37 rebounds to SFU's 30.
• Turnovers favored Saint Francis, 19-9, and points off turnovers were 16-8 for the Red Flash.
• SFU's bench was a key to its victory once again, outscoring William & Mary's bench, 27-10.
• Neither team led by double-digits at any point in the game.

Notes

• SFU's seven non-league wins (excluding postseason games) are its most since 1997-98.
• It is the first time Saint Francis has won five or more consecutive non-league games since the NEC formed in 1981-82.
• Braxton has now reached double-figures in all 11 games this season.
• Thompson finished with 10 points, Stewart with nine, Meredith with eight and senior Randall Gaskins Jr. had seven.
• The Red Flash have trailed or been tied at some point in the second half in five of its seven wins.

Up Next

Saint Francis opens conference play at Bryant on Jan. 2 at 4 p.m.