BOX SCORE SFU Postgame Quotes | Indiana Postgame Quotes

Bloomington, Ind. - The Saint Francis men's basketball team (18-15) led top-seeded Indiana 40-34 at the half in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) before being outscored 55-32 in the second half in an 89-72 defeat. Redshirt junior Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte) led Saint Francis with 21 points on five three-pointers while senior Jamaal King (Salisbury, Md./Bishop O'Connell (Va.)) ended his fantastic career with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. Sixteen of his points came in the first half as he willed the Red Flash to the halftime lead.

Krimmel's Reaction

"It was a great opportunity for our guys to come in here and compete against one of the most storied programs in college basketball history," said head coach Rob Krimmel. "I am really proud of how well our guys played for the first 20 minutes. To lead at the half against a good Indiana team in this atmosphere is something our guys will remember for the rest of their lives. I thought Indiana came out and made some really good adjustments and willed their-style on the second half but our guys have nothing to be disappointed about."

Turning Point

Saint Francis outrebounded the Hoosiers 26-21 in the first half and held a 40-34 lead thanks to 16 points from King. It was short-lived in the second half as the Hoosiers opened the half on a 16-2 run, taking the lead for good at 17:46.

Inside the Box Score

• Indiana made 21-of-33 (63.6%) shots in the second half and shot 35-of-68 (51.5%) for the game. The Red Flash made 24-of-65 (36.9%) from the field.
• Saint Francis made 9-of-24 (37.5%) from three-point range while the Hoosiers shot 6-of-21 (28.6%) from three.
• SFU responded from its putrid free-throw shooting performance in the NEC Championship by knocking down 15-of-18 (83.3%) from the charity stripe. Indiana was 13-for-23 (56.5%).
• Indiana took control on the glass in the second half and finished with a 44-38 edge in rebounding for the game.
• Points in the paint were dominated by the Hoosiers, 56-18.
• SFU's bench outscored Indiana's 19-8 behind seven points from freshman Myles Thompson (Camden, N.J./Camden).

Notes

• Saint Francis made its fourth postseason appearance in the last five years and its first in the NIT since 1958.
• SFU recorded consecutive 18 win seasons for the first time since 1966-67 – 1967-68. It is the first group to compete in the postseason in three consecutive seasons since 1950-52.
• King will finish his storied SFU career eighth all-time in scoring (1,517 points) and fifth in assists (386).
• Senior Andre Wolford (North Olmstead, Ohio/Saint Ignatius) will leave the program seventh all-time in made three-point field goals with 188.
• Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./Delsea) will enter his senior year ninth in career scoring (1,507 points), sixth in career rebounding (912) and eighth in assists (332.)
• Braxton and Blackmon will be the first set of teammates to enter a season as 1,000 point scorers since Joe Anderson and John Hilvert at the start of the 1990-91 season when they both return for their final seasons in 2019-20.
• Braxton will rank tied-for-second in career double-doubles (37) and third in total rebounds among all active players eligible to return next season.
• Sophomore Ramiir Dixon-Conover (Newark, N.J./South Kent) netted a career-high four points to go with three rebounds and two assists in the loss.