WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis might have played its best game to date, holding the lead for nearly 25 minutes before succumbing to Troy 74-64 in the consolation game of the Coconut Hoops Royal Palm Division in non-conference men's basketball action on Wednesday.
>> Skylar Wicks paced the Red Flash with 21 points and nine rebounds.
>> Victor Payne notched a career-high 15 points, and Zion Russell chipped in 11 points.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
With the Red Flash holding a 38-28 lead with 17:47 left in the game, the Trojans closed the game on a 46-26 run to overcome Saint Francis in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

After Troy took its first lead since the first half at 43-42 thanks to a 15-4 run, Wicks hit two 3-pointers to keep the Frankies close and tied the game at 48 at the 11-minute mark. 

The Trojans answered with a 10-3 run to grab a 61-54 advantage with 6:20 on the clock. Saint Francis then rolled off five unanswered from the charity stripe to make it a two-point game with 3:36 left. A Troy offensive foul handed the Frankies the ball with the chance to tie and take the lead on the ensuing possession, but a turnover and a Trojan 3-pointer helped Troy close the game on a 13-5 run to end the Red Flash's hopes. 

FLASH MOMENTS 
Saint Francis used an 18-6 run to take the lead for the rest of the first half. Payne, who tied his career high with 10 points in the first half, hit back-to-back 3-pointers at 17:26 and 16:17 to give the Red Flash an 8-5 lead. 

After Zion Russell scored in the lane at 15:38, the Trojans answered with three-straight points only to see the Frankies answer with six consecutive points thanks to a pair apiece from Ahmad Harrison, Payne and Cam Tweedy for a 16-8 edge with 12:15 on the clock. After a Troy trey, Wicks and Martino each had a basket for a 20-11 lead midway through the first half. 

The Trojans cut the margin to 30-28 with 56 seconds left, but Zion Russell drained a triple with 38 seconds left to give Saint Francis a 33-28 advantage going into the locker room. 

Wicks started the second half with a 5-0 run of his own to give Saint Francis its largest lead at 38-28 with 17:47 remaining.

FLASH NUGGETS
For the third time this season and the second time on this three-game road trip, Wicks reached 20 points in a game after shooting 7-for-15 from the floor, 2 of 5 from behind the arc and 5 of 7 from the free throw line. He narrowly missed his third double-double of the season after finishing with nine rebounds, and continued to stuff the stat sheet with three assists and three steals. It was the third time this year he has dished out three assists, while the three thefts are a season high and one off his personal best.

Payne, in his third collegiate start, registered his best performance of the season with a career-high 15 points. The sophomore, who outdid the previous best of 10 points against Penn State Shenango on December 4, 2024, shot 5-for-10 from the floor, 3 of 8 from behind the arc and 2 of 2 from the free throw line. 

Russell reached double figures for the fourth time this season and finished with 11 points for the second time after posting that total against Lehigh on November 18. Russell's four 10+ point games are second behind Wicks, who has reached double figures in every game this season.

Prior to the game against Troy, Saint Francis held the lead for 10 minutes and 46 seconds in its first five games. 

NEXT ON TAP
Saint Francis returns to action when it hosts Franciscan on Saturday. Game time is 2 p.m.
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