WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis played its third Power Conference opponent of the season in seven games on Monday. Xavier defeated the Red Flash in non-conference men's basketball action.
>> Skylar Wicks paced Saint Francis with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Zion Russell added 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
>> Gestin Liberis had six points late in the second half to finish with 10 points.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
With the score tied at four, the Musketeers rolled off seven-straight points to take the lead for good. Saint Francis posted a couple of surges to come within four points before Xavier pushed the lead to double figures at the end of the first half en route to a 96-74 victory.

FLASH MOMENTS 
The Red Flash scored six of nine points to make it a four-point margin with 12:40 remaining in the first half. Wicks and Ahmad Harrison each had a jumper, along with two free throws by Ralph Martino, Jr. 

Saint Francis had an 8-3 run to trim a nine-point deficit to four points at 24-20 with 9:07 left in the first half. Harrison and Russell each had a triple, while Wicks nailed a jumper in the run.

Wicks had a breakaway dunk off a pass from Russell at 5:12 in the first half.

Trey Weiand had a four-point play after a made 3-pointer and a free throw after being fouled on the make before the Frankies registered another 6-3 run in the second half with three baskets in the paint by Russell, Wicks, and Cam Tweedy. Wicks had his second dunk of the night.

Saint Francis added a 6-0 run midway through the second half, Wicks and Liberis each hit a pair at the free-throw line before Victor Payne scored in the lane.

Liberis then added a 6-0 run of his own in the final three minutes.

FLASH NUGGETS
Wicks has registered at least 18 points in all three games against Power 5 Conference teams this season. The redshirt senior had 20 against Oklahoma on November 3 and 18 against TCU three days later. He has registered at least 15 points and five rebounds in all seven games he has played. The six assists were a season high and tied his career best. He has also dished out at least three assists in six of the seven games.

Russell returns to double figures for the fifth time this season with his second-best scoring output of the season. The redshirt senior also had 15 points against the Sooners. The eight rebounds were a season high and tied his personal best, while he dished out four helpers for the second straight game and the fourth time this season. 

After recording a career-high 16 points and 10 rebounds against Franciscan on Saturday, Liberis reached double figures for the second consecutive game.

Martino finished with a career-high nine points. The sophomore has seven assists in his last two games after dishing out a career-high four dimes on Saturday, and has three assists three times in the last four tilts.

Paris Papadatos made his collegiate debut late in the second half. He registered his first basket with 3:14 remaining. 

KJ Swain, Jr., who grew up 40 miles from Xavier and was a women's basketball practice player for two years, made his first collegiate start in the game.

The game featured two head coaches who are following in their father's footsteps. Saint Francis' head coach, Luke McConnell, is the son of Tom McConnell, who served as the Saint Francis head coach from 1992 to 1999. Xavier's head coach, Richard Pitino, is the son of Hall of Fame head coach Rick Pitino. The last time the Red Flash defeated the Musketeers, Tom McConnell was the head coach, with a 77-73 win on January 31, 1994.

NEXT ON TAP
Saint Francis returns to action on Wednesday at home against Penn State Shenango. Game time is 7 p.m. Read Full Article