Central Connecticut State held a 43-31 lead with 17:16 left before the Loretto program closed the game on a 37-24 run to earn the win. A 16-6 run started the Saint Francis comeback that was fueled by eight points from Thompson with Land drilling a 3-pointer with 11:42 left in the second half. The Blue Devils retook a five-point lead before the Red Flash rolled off a 10-2 run to take a 60-57 advantage. Thompson had four points in the spurt before Flagg converted his own miss shot into a layup and then Thompson added another basket for a three-point edge. Central Connecticut State was not done yet and grabbed a 62-60 edge with 5:37 left. Flagg scored the next five points to give the Red Flash the lead for good and the squad held on for the victory.

FLASH QUOTES
"I thought Zahree, Luke and Mark raised their energy when they came into the game. I'm so proud of the dude to my right (Mark) for what he did in the second half. He didn't play at all in the first half. We talked and he knows he hasn't been playing great basketball as of late and has struggled a bit, but he didn't pout, didn't hang his head – he came right into the game and impacted it. That is a credit to Mark Flagg and his character and who he is as a person. Forget the basketball part of it, but for him to respond the way he did in the second half. Then Luke and Zahree to give us a little bit of a lift certainly helped Myles Thompson who did a lot of that scoring in that stretch. Neither one stopped down the stretch, we got that. Proud of those three guys coming off of the bench. One-point blow-out, we'll take it any way we can." - head coach Rob Krimmel on the win

"It's a fine line between winning and losing, but that emotional gap is huge. We've had a couple times where we have been on the bad end of that, but these guys got the stop today. Being able to close a game out like that, is the first time we've been able to do that this year. We have the best band and cheerleaders. They are phenomenal. That energy and excitement they create keeps people coming back and our guys want to play in front of crowds like that." - Krimmel on the environment and overall experience of winning

"We had the opportunity to honor Margie McHenry, who got the Belle Cuoure award. She is someone that has meant so much to Saint Francis University and that Red Flash passion that she embodied while she was here." - Krimmel on honoring Margie McHenry

"This was a great team win that we had to win. I don't really like to speak about myself. I think this was a great win as a team and this team played well. This was a game that we came out on, played hard and we came out on top in this one. They brought everything to the table – Luke, Zahree and Flagg came out there and gave us a boost. A boost off of the bench that we needed, so hats off to those dudes they came out and played for us." - senior Myles Thompson on keys to the game

"Man I just need that one game, to get my confidence going. I think it might be the crowd, honestly. The last good game was against Franciscan, with the students and everyone. Credit to the band and the crowd. Maybe they are my good luck charm that gets me going. So, hopefully here on out, I will keep it going." - redshirt senior Mark Flagg on having a good game

FLASH MOMENTS
Saint Francis jumped out to a 12-5 lead thanks to five points from Dixon-Conover, four from Cohen and a trey from Land five minutes and eight seconds into the game. Land also drained a triple for a 15-12 advantage with 13:18 on the clock. The 3-ball continued to help the Red Flash take the lead after Ruggery nailed a 3-pointer at 7:21 to give the home team the lead at 23-22. Cohen handed the Loretto team its final lead of the opening half on a layup at 5:04 in the opening stanza.

FLASH NUGGETS
Thompson paced the team in scoring for the second-straight game and for the third time this season. Thompson's 21 points are the second most points scored in a single game for the senior with a career-best 23 points against Florida State in his sophomore year. The senior also moved over 900 points in his career, while notching his fifth game this season with 17 points or more.

Cohen reached double figures for the fourth-straight game and the 10th time this season. His five rebounds are the 12th time this season he has corralled at least five boards in a game.

Land had nine points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Dixon-Conover posted five points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals.

Ruggery added six points in 19 minutes and Harrison did not stuff the stat sheet with two points, two rebounds and two assists, but played 20 quality minutes and had a team-best +12 while he was in the game.

The Red Flash ended its three-game home losing streak after losing the final three games of the 2021 year, but has also won two of its last three contests played.

UP NEXT
Saint Francis returns to action on Sunday at home against Sacred Heart. Game time is 4 p.m.