WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Behind career nights by sophomore Cam Gregory (Accokeek, Md.), and freshmen Aaron "Ace" Talbert (Wyandanch, N.Y.), Aidan Harris (Annapolis, Md.) and Eli Wilborn (Middletown, Conn.), Saint Francis earned its first win of the season with a 77-63 victory against Pitt Greensburg in non-conference men's basketball action on Monday in the Red Flash's home opener.
>> Gregory registered a career-best 19 points thanks to 8-for-11 shooting from the floor, 1 of 4 from behind the arc and 2 of 4 from the free throw line.
>> Talbert (15 points), Harris (10 points) and Wilborn (10 points) each notched their first double-figure performance of the season.
>> Saint Francis improved to 9-3 in home openers under head coach Rob Krimmel.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
The Red Flash used a 12-5 run in the first half to take the lead for good. Harris started the spurt with a 3-pointer at 17:08 before Gregory registered back-to-back baskets at 15:57 and 14:38. After a Bobcat 3-ball, Carlos Lopez, Jr. (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) scored on an up and under layup at 13:48 and then Talbert capped the spurt with a trey at 12:24 for an 18-10 advantage.

FLASH QUOTES

"It's a win. It's a step in the right direction for these guys as they learn how to compete Division I level and play college basketball. I really like where this team is going and the foundation that they've set. We have to have a short-term memory and come back in tomorrow and get ready for another opponent and we'll be ready to compete for 40 minutes." – head coach Rob Krimmel on the win

"I can't coach frustrated because they don't know what they don't know. And someone said that to me a couple of weeks ago and it's our job as coaches to help them take those steps. And the great thing about the group is that they are willing to learn. They're open minded and when you have guys that work hard that play together that do those things, the development becomes a lot easier and at the heart of what I believe college basketball is about is development." – Krimmel on the team's development

"Confidence is something that's learned over time that comes with a little bit of the resilience that I talked about and the way in the way that you build that confidence is you have to accept some of the failure you have to accept some of the thet game basketball is a game of failure. You have to accept some of the defeat and some of the losses. You lose, you lose close, you win, you win big right? You can't just jump right in and win every basketball game. So that confidence needs to be developed but at the heart of what we need to do as coaches we have to get those kids to believe in themselves and to get that confidence. I put it on these guys that they need to believe in each other the locker room needs to have a team confidence. It's a it's a shared partnership with that from a confidence standpoint." – Krimmel on gaining confidence

"We always talked about just staying together. I talked to the guys off the floor and on the floor all the time. I'm just trying to make sure that they stay confident all the time. I've been in that situation as a freshman there's a lot of stuff coming at you but you just stay confident. And that's what I've been preaching since day one." – Cam Gregory on being a leader
 
"Well, not only me, but I thought it was good for the team for a confidence boost morale boost for the team because you know, we started off 0-4 and now to get this one. I think it was a very good confidence boost. And I think we just keep rolling off this one." - Aaron "Ace" Talbert on the win

FLASH MOMENTS
Pitt Greensburg would cut the margin to three points three times before the Frankies ended the half on a 11-5 run to go into the locker room with a 36-27 lead. Talbert had five points and Wilborn added four points in the spurt.
 
Saint Francis started the second half on a 27-18 run to extend its lead to 63-45 with 8:35 left in the game. Gregory had five points while Wisler Sanon II (Sicklersville, N.J.) added four points in this stretch to lead the Red Flash.

FLASH NUGGETS
Gregory has registered double figures in three games this season, all in his last four contests, and has seven 10+ point games in his career. The 19 points set a new career high to surpass the 15 points he registered at Ohio State on December 3, 2022. The 19 points also tie Bobby Rosenberger III (Quakertown, Pa.), the current Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week, for the most points this season after Rosenberger had 19 points at Penn State on November 14.
 
Talbert's 15 points are the third most points scored in a game this season behind Gregory and Rosenberger's 19-point outbursts. The freshman, who had a then career-high seven points at Santa Clara on November 11, hit 6 of 8 from the field, 2 of 3 from 3-point land and 1 of 1 from the free throw line against Pitt Greensburg.
 
Wilborn tallied a career high in points (10) and rebounds (7) and is averaging 8.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in his last three games after posting a then career-high nine points at Santa Clara and a then career-best six boards against Penn State. The freshman also added a career-best three blocks on the night.
 
Harris reached double figures for the first time after posting four points twice in the first four games. Harris and Rosenberger recorded their first career start on the night.
 
The Loretto program had four double-digit scorers in a game for the first time since February 18, 2023 at LIU.

Sanon finished the game with eight points and Rosenberger had six points and three assists.

Saint Francis used its fourth different lineup in five games. Gregory and Moncrief are the only players to have started all five games. The Red Flash also started three freshmen for the third time under Krimmel.
 
The Frankies are now 12-0 against non-NCAA Division I teams and are now 63-11 in home openers dating back to the 1950-51 season.
 
With the win, Krimmel now moves to within two wins of 150 victories as a head coach.

NEXT TIME OUT
Saint Francis continues its three-game homestand over the Thanksgiving holiday on Wednesday against Franciscan. Game time is 7 p.m.