LORETTO, Pa. – Senior Mark Flagg scored 16 points and added eight rebounds, but an experienced UMBC team executed at the free-throw line to pull away in the second half and defeat the Saint Francis men's basketball team, 80-65, Saturday afternoon at DeGol Arena.
 
Redshirt junior Tyler Stewart added 12 points and freshman Maxwell Land was in double figures for the second-straight game to begin his collegiate career, chipping in 10.
 
Both teams were proficient in knocking down shots in the contest, with UMBC shooting 49.1% and the Red Flash at 48.1%. However, a 21-for-27 showing from the Retrievers at the line, including a 17-for-21 mark in the second half, helped UMBC build the eventual 15-point final margin.
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UMBC 80, Saint Francis 65
Records: Saint Francis (1-1), UMBC (1-1)
Location: DeGol Arena (Loretto, Pa.)
 
COACH KRIMMEL'S COMMENTS
"One of the things we talked about after the Pitt game was being able to build on a successful moment. We had two good practices and put ourselves in good position for this game.
 
"UMBC played better than we did today. That's flat-out. We're going to go back and look at the film and find ways that we can be better, cut down on those turnovers, and continue to grow."


 
KEY MOMENTS 

• Saint Francis opened the game on an 8-2 run and trailed for only 24 seconds in the game's first 16 minutes.
• UMBC began the second half on a 9-0 run to turn a one-point halftime deficit into a 41-33 lead the Retrievers would not relinquish.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• The Red Flash opened the contest with an 8-2 advantage in the game's first five minutes with four points each from Flagg and junior Myles Thompson.
• The Retrievers responded with a 9-2 run to take the lead before Stewart knocked down a three to put SFU in front 13-11.
• A Land layup pushed the advantage to 22-17 before the Retrievers scored the next five to pull even at 22 with 5:28 to play in the half.
• UMBC led by three before baskets from Flagg and redshirt sophomore Bryce Laskey in the closing 1:09 of the half sent the Red Flash to the locker room ahead 33-32.
• The Retrievers opened the second half on a 9-0 run and kept SFU off the scoreboard for the first 3:22 out of the break, moving in front 41-33.
• SFU would get back within three on four occasions with a three by Land, two layups from Flagg, and a Thompson second effort with 10:22 to play cutting the UMBC lead to 53-50.
• A Retriever three with 4:30 to go extended the margin to double digits for the first time on the afternoon and UMBC would lead by at least nine the rest of the way. 

STATS

• Flagg was 8-of-12 from the field and added eight rebounds. In the season's opening week, Flagg was 13-of-17 (76.5%) on field goals.
• Stewart scored 12 points with the help of a 3-for-4 mark from distance and added five rebounds.
• Land scored 10 points in his second consecutive double-digit performance.
• Freshman Zahree Harrison dished out a team-high four assists off the bench.
• SFU shot an even 50% in the second half and 48.1% for the contest. UMBC sank 53.8% of shots (14-of-26) after the half and was 49.1% for the game.
• The Retrievers out-rebounded the Red Flash, 36-29.

GAME NOTES

• SFU drops to 11-15 all-time against UMBC. The Red Flash and Retrievers were NEC opponents from 1998-2003.
• Redshirt freshman Luke Ruggery scored his first career points on a pair of first-half free throws.
• The Red Flash used the same starting lineup (Dixon-Conover, Land, Laskey, Thompson, Flagg) for the second-consecutive game.
• Saint Francis alum Tom Fox joined Pat Farabaugh on Saturday's NEC Front Row broadcast. Fox, who played alongside head coach Rob Krimmel and assistant coach Eric Taylor, scored 738 career points in Loretto from 1995-2000.

UP NEXT 
The Red Flash open a two-game trip Tuesday at No. 4 Virginia. The game can be seen on ACC Network at 4 p.m.
 
Follow Saint Francis Men's Basketball on Facebook, Twitter and 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.