Loretto, Pa. - Junior
Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./Delsea) fell two assists shy of a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, redshirt junior
Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte) added 19 points and six rebounds, and senior
Jamaal King (Salisbury, Md./Bishop O'Connell (Va.)) recorded 14 points and eight assists as the Saint Francis men's basketball team (11-11, 7-4 NEC) moved its win streak to four games with a 90-85 victory over CCSU.
Krimmel's Reaction
"We played really unselfish basketball tonight," said head coach
Rob Krimmel. "We assisted on 23 of our 31 made field goals and had a really nice flow offensively. I thought the first 30 minutes was some of the best basketball we've played this season. I am excited to get back at it Saturday night and hopefully continue this streak."
First Half Summary
Saint Francis opened up a 22-8 lead over the first six minutes of the game behind eight points from King. The Blue Devils kept it close on 15-of-17 shooting from the free throw line. Saint Francis made 18-of-36 field goals and six three-pointers as its 48 points were its most in any first half during conference season.
Second Half Summary
Eight quick points from junior Randall Gaskins Jr. helped Saint Francis rocket out of the gates. The Red Flash led 81-60 with 10:13 remaining after a layup from sophomore
Mark Flagg (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) before CCSU made its move. Blue Devils senior Tyler Kohl, who scored a game-high 35 points on 11-of-24 shooting, cut SFU's lead to 88-83 with a layup with 1:03 to play. He had a chance to cut it to two with a three-pointer but missed and Flagg secured the rebound and iced the game from the line.
Inside the Box Score
- Saint Francis finished the game 31-of-62 (50.0%) from the field while CCSU made 30-of-68 (44.1%) shots.
- The Red Flash connected on 11-of-26 (42.3%) three-pointers and held CCSU to 3-of-10 (30.0%) from behind the arc.
- Saint Francis evened the free throw disparity in the second half, making 17-of-24 (70.8%) to CCSU's 19-of-26 (73.1%).
- SFU recorded 23 assists to 11 for CCSU.
- The Red Flash outrebounded the Blue Devils 40-36.
- SFU committed 13 turnovers to nine for CCSU.
- Points in the paint favored SFU, 36-30.
Notes
- Braxton, King and Blackmon combined for 52 points, 21 rebounds and 19 assists. The trio is averaging a combined 51.5 points per game or 17.1 ppg per player over the team's four-game win streak.
- Seniors Luidgy Laporal (Petit-Boutg, France/Harcum C.C.) and Andre Wolford (North Olmstead, Ohio/Saint Ignatius) rounded out the five SFU scores in double figures with 10 points each. Laporal also corralled five rebounds.
- Gaskins and Flagg added eight points with Flagg finishing with eight points and seven rebounds.
- SFU's 23 assists were its second most this season and the most vs. a Division I team.
- SFU's 21-point second half lead was its largest lead of the season vs. a Division I opponent.
- The 90 points scored were the most in 11 conference games.
Up Next
Saint Francis will try to keep the good vibes rolling on Saturday when it welcomes Bryant at 7 p.m.
