WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> After a week off due to a pair of postponements, Saint Francis falls 81-69 to New Haven in NEC men's basketball action on Saturday.
>> Ahmad Harrison paced the Red Flash with 16 points. Zion Russell added 15 points, and Skylar Wicks chipped in 12 points.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
With the game tied at 37 with 1:23 left in the first half, the Chargers went on a 22-11 run to take a 59-48 lead with 12:34 left, and the Red Flash could not cut it to single digits the rest of the way.

FLASH QUOTES
"New Haven executed its game plan. They packed the paint on us and made it tough for us offensively. We fell in the trap of taking the first easy shot we got, and the shots weren't falling." - head coach Luke McConnell on the game

FLASH MOMENTS 
Trailing 14-8 with 14:07 left in the first half, Harrison and Russell powered a 16-5 spurt with five points apiece to give Saint Francis a 24-19 lead with 8:06 left in the first half. 

After New Haven took the advantage, the Frankies scored six unanswered points to tie the game at 37 with 83 seconds left until the break. Russell hit a 3-ball, Wicks a jumper, and Chris Moncrief had a free throw in the run. 

The Red Flash closed the final five minutes and 26 seconds on a 14-9 surge thanks to six points by Harrison, five by Russell, and three by Gestin Liberis. 

FLASH NUGGETS
Harrison posted three games with at least 16 points in what became a four-game homestand. The senior averaged 14.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game in the four contests. The six rebounds on Saturday were a season high.

Similar to Harrison, Russell also had double figures in three of the four games at home, but also has seven 10+ point games in his last eight tilts. He is averaging 12.8 points per game over his last eight games, dating back to Temple on December 14. The redshirt senior had a season-high four steals, marking the third time this season he has posted at least three thefts.

Wicks has scored double figures in five straight and six of the eight games in NEC play. During his five-game streak, Wicks is averaging 15.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. The redshirt senior had seven caroms on Saturday and has at least seven boards in his last three contests.

Liberis stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, six rebounds, and five assists. The five helpers tied his career best he also set at TCU on November 6. The redshirt junior had nine points for the second straight game and averaged 8.8 points per game in the four-game homestand.

The last time Saint Francis played, it defeated Chicago State 81-60 against Chicago State on January 23. The Red Flash then had its game at New Haven on January 25 and its tilt at Chicago State on January 29 postponed. 

The Saint Francis men's basketball coaching staff wore suits and sneakers as part of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Suits and Sneakers Week to raise awareness for cancer. It was the first time the coaching staff had worn suits since the NCAA First Four game against Alabama State on March 13, 2025.

Prior to the game, Saint Francis honored team manager Matthew Hall, who has been with the team for the last four years. He is also the Red Flash team manager and will be at the Battle of the Bay at Hampton on February 21, during the men's basketball senior day.

NEXT ON TAP
With the two postponements, Saint Francis will now hit the road for a four-game road trip over eight days, starting at Mercyhurst on Thursday. Game time is 7 p.m. Read Full Article