If you watched the first three minutes and 16 seconds of the game, it looked like it would be a long afternoon in North Andover for the Red Flash, A media timeout with 15:48 left in the opening stanza seemed to be what the doctor ordered because by the next media timeout it was tied at 13 after a nice throw from
Luke Ruggery (Duncansville, Pa.) to
Zahree Harrison (West Philadelphia, Pa.) for the easy layup. By the third media timeout the Red Flash had opened up a 10-point lead and the rest you could say was history.
FLASH QUOTES
"After a long road trip, I am impressed with the way these guys came out and played. We got off to a slow start, but we weathered the storm and came back and I thought we were able to do some very good things defensively. Our challenge now is to put 40 minutes together in back-to-back games against a very talented Bryant team on Monday."
– head coach Rob Krimmel about the game
"These guys need to enjoy this one. They keep coming to practice, they love to compete, they love to travel with each other and very pleased with the way we executed the game plan. With the guys that played the bulk of the minutes, I was really impressed with Zahree (Harrison), Luke (Ruggery) and Jeriah (Coleman). Those three guys came off the bench and gave us a huge lift and it is nice to see their progression as players and the patience that they have shown. When their number is called, they have produced."
– Krimmel on some of the keys to the game
"You can never underestimate the power of a win. We have been close with the LIU game and we played well in the first half against Wagner and St. Francis Brooklyn game. It's been a tale of two halves for us, being able to put back-to-back halves together so that is a big confidence boast. Getting a win on the road against an undefeated team certainly is for confidence, but now it is important to put back-to-back performances together.
– Krimmel on getting the win
FLASH MOMENTS
With Saint Francis leading 32-20, the Red Flash went on a 14-4 spurt to extend its lead to 46-44 midway through the second half. Cohen had six points and Hargis added five points in this stretch.
Land hit a jumper at 7:58 and Ruggery had a trey at 6:59 to give the Loretto team its largest lead at 51-27 and 54-30, respectively.
FLASH NUGGETS
Hargis notched his second-straight double-figure performance, fifth of the season and 10th in a Red Flash uniform. Four of his five 10+ games have occurred on the road this season, while all five double-digit games took place at DeGol Arena last season. It marks the fourth time in the last two years the senior has registered consecutive 10+ games. In addition, Hargis registered at least five rebounds for the fourth time this season.
Land has posted double figures for the ninth time this season and the eighth time in his last 11 contests and five of his last six tilts. He is averaging 13.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in that stretch. The nine rebounds matched his career-best total he set in the second meeting against Merrimack last season.
Cohen notched double figures in consecutive games he has played after registering 15 points against Fairleigh Dickinson on Dec. 31. He has scored double figures eight times this season and 12 times in his two seasons. In addition, he had at least seven caroms for the seventh time in 2021-22.
Jeriah Coleman (Anchorage, Alaska) matched his career bests of seven points and three blocks. The sophomore had seven points against Bucknell on Dec. 1 and notched three rejections for the second-straight contest. Coleman has eight blocks in his last three games and now leads the team with 12 rejections.
Saint Francis held an opponent under 50 points for the first time since it defeated American 68-48 on Nov. 21, 2015 and marked the first conference team held under 50 points since the Red Flash downed Bryant 60-34 on Feb. 11, 2010.
Saint Francis started its fourth different lineup of the season, but each player had been in the starting lineup in a previous lineup. Land becomes the only starter this season to start every game.
The Red Flash ended a six-game losing streak with its first win since defeating Hartford 81-66 on Dec. 14, 2021. The game on Dec. 14 was in honor of Jack Phelan and there might have been some Phelan influence in the win on Saturday. Friday was the 25th anniversary of Jack Phelan's DeGol Arena record 42 point performance against Duquesne.
Last season, the team also had a six-game losing streak. Saint Francis earned its first-ever win against Merrimack, and the red uniforms earned its first win of the year.
UP NEXT
Saint Francis wraps up the New England swing of the four-game road trip at Bryant on Monday. It is the eighth time in program history the Red Flash has went on a four-game conference road trip. Game time is 7 p.m.
