The Red Flash started the second half with consecutive 3-balls to take the lead for good.
Maxwell Land (Cincinnati, Ohio) gave the Loretto program a 29-27 lead 23 seconds into the final frame before Thompson nailed a triple of his own at the 19-minute mark for a five-point lead. The Mountain Hawks cut the margin to 38-35 with 16:02 left before Cohen fueled a 9-0 run with five points that including a pair of baskets off of offensive rebounds. Dixon-Conover also had four points in the run including a steal and finish on the offensive end. Cohen answered another spurt by Lehigh again after the Mountain Hawks made it a five-point game with a pair of layups and one's for a 55-45 lead with 10:28 on the clock. One last gasp by the Mountain Hawks cut it to five one last time, but a 22-4 run put the game away for the Red Flash. Thompson had seven points to fuel the run.
FLASH QUOTES
"I thought a lot of good things happened out of this game. We challenged our group over the course of the early season to get better every opportunity we had. We knew this would be a challenge.We spent the better part of the first few weeks on the road and it is important for these guys to have some success because we were doing some things well in spurts. We are certainly pleased with the effort from everybody and I thought we got contributions from everybody that played. The big thing for this group is to be happy, but not satisfied. We have to turn around and play another game on Wednesday. We learn from these moments. We came out of the second half and made a run and got up and then they made a run back at us we made a run back. In those moments you try to grow and teach and continue to develop a group that cares and our challenge is our shot not my shot, we play for each other and those are going to be the slogans for the rest of the year. We try to build something each game we have a chance to compete. We have to enjoy this one, but put it to bed pretty quickly as we get ready for Wednesday."
- head coach Rob Krimmel on the win
"It seems like forever ago since we have played at home, but any time you have the opportunity to compete on your home court there is a certain pride you have to play with. Each time we have a chance to play at home those opportunities become more and more important and this will be our next one. We can build on some momentum of this one and defend DeGol will be a big step for this group."
- Krimmel on playing at home on Wednesday
"It was pure energy there. That was our MO in the second half to bring a significant amount of energy on the defensive end that led to buckets on the offensive end."
- redshirt sophomore Josh Cohen on the second half run
"I feel like in the first couple of games I was being passive. Today, I went back to the basics getting some easy finishes, go hard to the rim and it really paid off today."
- Cohen on having a career-high 18 points in last two games
FLASH MOMENTS
Trailing 12-4 with 14:27 left in the first half, Dixon-Conover powered a 9-0 run with five points to give Saint Francis a 13-12 lead with 11:01 left in the stanza.
With the score tied at 17, Thompson made a layup and converted two free throws to give the Loretto program a 21-17 advantage with 7:06 remaining.
Lehigh grabbed a 23-21 edge before Dixon-Conover scored in the paint and
Marlon Hargis (Mays Landing, N.J.) converted a tradition 3-point play at 2:24 for a 26-23 edge. The Mountain Hawks scored the last four points of the half to go into the locker room with a 27-26 lead only to see the Red Flash outscore its hosts 53-41 in the second half to earn its first road win of the season.
FLASH NUGGETS
Cohen has scored double figures in two-straight games, the third time this season and seventh of his career. He also has two double-doubles in 2021-22 and three in his career.
Thompson reached double figures on the road for the first time this season and matched his season high of 17 points at home against Franciscan on Nov. 15. It was the 38th time in his career he has posted double figures and the third time against Lehigh.
Dixon-Conover has reached double figures in three of the four games he has played this season and 22 times in his career. The redshirt senior has recorded at least three steals in a game 11 times in his career. Giles has posted double figures three times this season and 15 times in his career. The sophomore has scored at least 16 points five times in his two seasons.
Hargis finished with five points and a season-high five rebounds.
Mark Flagg (Fairless Hills, Pa.) registered one block to move into a tie for third place on the program's all-time career list with 109 rejections.
The win ends a six-game losing streak at Lehigh and the first Red Flash win since the first meeting in Bethlehem in 1976-77.
Saint Francis improves to 2-3 for the fifth time under head coach
Rob Krimmel and the 22nd time dating back to the 1950-51 season. The squad also improves to 20-18 against fellow members of the Keystone State.
UP NEXT
The Red Flash return to action on Wednesday at home against Bucknell. Game time is 7 p.m. Fans can receive half off a general admission ticket by donating a new or gently used toy for Toys for Tots.
