Saint Francis hosts UMBC Saturday afternoon
Miles McQuiggan
LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis men's basketball team looks to build on a historic season-opening victory when the Red Flash hosts UMBC in Saturday's home opener.
SFU will play a game in DeGol Arena for the first time since March 7 when the Retrievers visit Loretto for the 26th all-time meeting between the former NEC foes.
Tickets will not be sold for Saturday's home opener or games through January 15. An update on ticketing policy will be given in January.
The Matchup: UMBC (0-1) at Saint Francis (1-0)
Location: DeGol Arena (Loretto, Pa.)
Date and Time: Saturday, Nov. 28 – 3 p.m.
Watch: NEC Front Row (
Pat Farabaugh, Tom Fox)
Game Notes: Saint Francis
Social Media: Facebook |
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SCOUTING THE RETRIEVERS
UMBC nearly pulled off an Opening Night upset of its own Wednesday in the nation's capital, going toe-to-toe with Georgetown before falling 70-62. Brandon Horvath recorded a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Darnell Rogers and E.J. Eytle-Rock both posted double-figure efforts for UMBC.
UMBC was picked second in the America East preseason poll after going 16-17 with an 8-8 mark in conference play last season. The Retrievers advanced to the AE semifinals before their season was ended by Vermont in an 81-74 contest.
SERIES HISTORY
The Red Flash and Retrievers were conference opponents from 1998-2003, as the Baltimore university spent five years in the NEC after departing the Big South for more practical geography. UMBC went 7-3 in the 10 conference meetings and is 14-11 all-time against Saint Francis.
The teams met last December in Baltimore with the Red Flash winning 63-60. SFU led by 10 at the half, and after UMBC came back to take the lead in the closing minutes, the Red Flash went 8-for-10 at the line the rest of the way to seal the victory.
LAST TIME OUT: SAINT FRANCIS 80, PITT 70
Senior
Ramiir Dixon-Conover scored a career-high 21 points and the Red Flash led for 38 minutes of its first win over the Panthers in program history Wednesday. Four other SFU players were in double figures, including a 13-point, eight-rebound effort from junior
Myles Thompson.
SO FRESH, SO CLEAN
Saint Francis got 38% of its minutes from freshmen in Wednesday's win at Pitt.
Maxwell Land made his first career start and scored 12 points, while
Ronell Giles, Jr. tallied 10 points off the bench.
Josh Cohen,
Jeriah Coleman,
Zahree Harrison, and
Luke Ruggery also made their collegiate debuts in the victory. Coleman grabbed five rebounds in six minutes of action.
Giles, Harrison, and Land were on the floor in the final minute as the Red Flash closed out the win at Pitt.
TURN, TURN, TURN
Saint Francis forced 23 Pitt turnovers in the season-opening win. The 23 miscues by the Panthers were the most by a D1 opponent in
Rob Krimmel's time as head coach.
FOLLOW THE LEADER
The Red Flash led for the final 38:10 of the season-opening victory at Pitt, as junior
Myles Thompson and freshman
Maxwell Land teamed up for a 10-0 run after an opening two by the Panthers.
HE DOESN'T MISS
Senior
Mark Flagg was 5-for-5 from the field in the victory at Pitt, scoring 11 points while adding six rebounds and two blocks.
HIGH FIVES AND DIMES
Eight players on the Red Flash recorded an assist in the win at Pitt. Senior
Ramiir Dixon-Conover led the way with five assists, senior
Mark Flagg and junior
Myles Thompson added three each, freshman
Ronell Giles, Jr. chipped in with two, and redshirt sophomore
Bryce Laskey, redshirt freshman
Luke Ruggery, and freshmen
Zahree Harrison and
Maxwell Land tallied one apiece.
NEC > ACC
Saint Francis' victory Wednesday was the sixth in Northeast Conference history against an ACC opponent and first since St. Francis Brooklyn defeated Miami in 2013.
COASTAL BUCKET ADVISORY
Junior
Myles Thompson has enjoyed competing against the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Thompson's 13-point performance at Pitt was his third in four career games against the ACC. He scored a career-high 23 points last season at Florida State and tallied 14 as a freshman at Virginia Tech.
INTRO TO COLLEGE HOOPS
Nine players on the Red Flash did not appear in a game last season for Saint Francis. Of that group, four are true freshmen, one is a transfer, and four redshirted a year ago.
NEXT UP: NO. 4 VIRGINIA
The Red Flash will begin a two-game trip to the Commonwealth of Virginia when Saint Francis clashes with No. 4 Virginia Tuesday at 4 p.m. on ACC Network.
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Instagram to get up-to-date information and a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Flash.
To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit
francis.edu.
