With the Red Flash holding a 27-26 lead with 3:42 left in the first half, Saint Francis outscored Franciscan 24-6 over the next seven minutes and 23 seconds to take control of the game. Giles powered the 13-2 run to end the first half with 11 of the 13 points thanks to a four-point and three-point play. Flagg keyed an 11-4 run to start the second half with six points.

FLASH QUOTES
"The home court advantage that is DeGol Arena and without our band, without our cheerleaders, our dance team and our fans that was huge for us last year. When you have an opportunity to play in front of your home crowd you have to take advantage of it. It helps when you play in front of a crowd. The adrenaline that we experienced at George Washington and the adrenaline that was in our gym tonight was fantastic. Every time you step out there you have to defend DeGol." - head coach Rob Krimmel on playing at home for the first time with fans since March 2020.

"For this group right now we have to establish an identity. We challenge these guys to be consistent every day, and not just when the lights go on. You have got to establish that opportunity every chance you have. Whether it's a game jersey or a practice jersey you have to establish your identity because if not your identity becomes what you are consistently are." - Krimmel on gaining an identity as a team.

"When you have a chance to tell a story with your games, we jump on those opportunities and what better way to tell a story than a rivalry that goes back well before I was born. To share that experience on a basketball court. You can bring two basketball teams together that share the same mission and vision. There are not many basketball games that end with a prayer. Two teams coming together and sharing a moment. It's a pretty special event, a pretty special game that I hope we can continue." - Krimmel on the Franciscan rivalry.

"I was super excited to see everyone come out and support us. We as players are so thankful to be able to play in front of our school." - Maxwell Land on playing in front of fans.

"It was completely different. Our home games last year felt like practice because there was nobody in the gym. Not that we have fans, you have the band, the cheerleaders, it gets up pumping' and going so we all appreciate that" - Ronell Giles on playing in front of fans. 

"The second half we started a lot more sharp and together. We came together as players and said that we needed to step it up. Lets start the first four minutes of the second half right and execute." - Land on the start of the second half.
 
"I do not think my 10 years as a head coach or my 25 years at Saint Francis that anybody has gotten that type of ovation. Brendan is a crowd favorite. People respect what he brings to the table." - Krimmel on Brendan Scanlon's ovation after his basket. 

FLASH MOMENTS
Saint Francis jumped out to an 18-9 lead in the first eight minutes of the game. Dixon-Conover had six points and Thompson added five points in this stretch.

With the Loretto program leading 57-41 with 14:23 left in the game, the Red Flash went on a 26-2 run to take an 83-43 advantage. Land posted 11 of his 16 second half points in this stretch.

Freshman Brendan Scanlon (State College, Pa.) entered the game for his first collegiate action with 2:52 left in the game. He electrified the crowd with two rebounds before notching his first career basket with 27 seconds left to get the crowd rocking and put an exclamation point on the victory with the 100th team point of the night.

FLASH NUGGETS
Flagg posted back-to-back double-doubles for the second time in his career. He recorded the trick twice in a row last year against Mount St. Mary's and Long Island. The redshirt senior recorded two blocks to move within two rejections of third place on the program's all-time career list, and now needs 22 rebounds to reach 600 for his career.

Dixon-Conover posted his 16th double figure game in his last 17 games and his 17 in his last 20 games since moving into the starting lineup last season. He has also registered at least five rebounds in a game 10 times since 2020-21. 

Jeriah Coleman (Anchorage, Alaska) added a career-best five points on the night. Cohen registered a career-best 11 caroms.

Saint Francis scored 100 points for the 10th time under head coach Rob Krimmel. The team reached 100 points for the sixth time against non-Division I opponent in the Krimmel era. It is the fourth time the Red Flash has played Franciscan under Krimmel.

The Red Flash improved to 1-1 for the 32nd time dating back to the 1950-51 season and the fifth time under Krimmel. The squad also improved to 61-11 in the first home game of the season since the 1950-51 campaign. 

Last season fans were not allowed in the stands due to CoVID-19 so this game was the first game with fans at DeGol Arena since the Northeast Conference semifinals against Sacred Heart on March 7, 2020 when 1,423 fans were in attendance.

UP NEXT
Saint Francis returns to action when it begins a three-game road trip at Virginia Tech on Thursday. Game time is 8 p.m. and can be seen on the ACC Network. The Hokies are currently the highest team not ranked receiving votes in the AP Basketball Poll