Fairfield, Conn.  – Senior Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./Delsea) scored a game-high 23 points on Thursday, but it was his final two that were the difference as his layup with 1.6 seconds to play gave the Saint Francis men's basketball team (15-8, 8-4 NEC) a 70-68 road victory at Sacred Heart on Saturday night.
 
Krimmel's Reaction
 
"Tonight was a playoff-type basketball game," said head coach Rob Krimmel. "I thought we played with tremendous focus for 40 minutes. It was a complete team-effort and we needed contributions from everyone to get the win."
 
How It Happened
 
The Red Flash and Pioneers were tied 65-65 with under two minutes to play when redshirt senior Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte) drew a foul in the act of shooting. He converted one of two to put Saint Francis in front. After a Red Flash defensive stand, junior Mark Flagg (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) followed a missed layup and tipped it home to put Saint Francis ahead 68-65 with 45 seconds remaining. The Pioneers tied the game with 30 seconds left on their 11^th three-pointer of the game as Krimmel took a timeout to draw up the final play. He left the ball in the reigning NEC Player of the Year's hands and Braxton delivered as he has done his entire career, driving to the rim for the game-winning layup. Sacred Heart had an opportunity to go the length of the floor in the final 1.6 seconds, but Flagg deflected the inbound pass and Saint Francis moved into solo third place in the NEC.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Sacred Heart shot 57.1% from the field in the second half and 45.5% for the game (25-55). Saint Francis finished the game 27-66 (40.9%) from the field.
• SFU made 6-17 (35.3%) three-point attempts, while Sacred Heart went 11-25 (44.0%).
• The Red Flash converted 10-11 (90.9%) free throws. Sacred Heart went 7-12 (58.3%).
• Saint Francis won the turnover battle 15-13, committing just two of the 13 in the second half.
• Rebounds favored Saint Francis 36-32 with 14 coming on the offensive end.
• Points in the paint were also won by Saint Francis, 36-22.

 
Notes
 

• Braxton's two highest scoring games in conference play have both come against Sacred Heart. He averaged 23.5 ppg in SFU's two wins.
• Blackmon finished with 14 points and six rebounds.
• Sophomore Myles Thompson (Camden, N.J./Camden) just missed out on a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
• Dixon-Conover continued his strong play with nine points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists.
• SFU five-men Mark Flagg (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) and Deivydas Kuzavas (Kretinga, Lithuania/St. Mary's Ryken (Md.)) combined for 13 points and six rebounds.
• The Red Flash passed Sacred Heart in the standings to move into solo third place.
• Saint Francis needs to win five of its last six regular-season games to reach 20 wins for the first time since 1990-91.
• Braxton needs just 106 points to become the first 2,000 point, 1,000 rebound performer in Northeast Conference history.
• Blackmon passed Norm Van Lier for 12^th on the school's all-time scoring list.

 Up Next

Saint Francis tries to complete the season-sweep of Wagner on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 4 p.m.