Wagner (10-16, 5-10 NEC) at Saint Francis (6-21, 4-10 NEC)
Date | Time	Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 2 p.m.
Location	Loretto, Pa. | DeGol Arena
Television	NEC Front Row (Pat Farabaugh (pxp), Eric Taylor (analyst)
Live Stats	Sidearm
Printable Notes	Saint Francis | Wagner
Stats	Saint Francis | Wagner | NEC
Social Media	@RedFlashMBB  | #BELIEVE | @RedFlashMBB | Facebook

 

Saint Francis Probable Starters
Pos.	No.	Name	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	PPG	RPG	FG%	Note
G	0	Chris Moncrief	6-6	190	Sr.	9.2	2.5	49.6	Scored season-high 22 points at Mercyhurst
G	F	Skylar Wicks	6-6	190	R-Sr.	18.4	7.0	41.4	Averaging 29.0 ppg in last two games
G	15	Victor Payne	6-4	190	So.	7.2	3.6	44.1	Career-high 23 points against LIU
F	21	Gestin Liberis	6-9	225	R-Jr.	6.4	4.8	52.0	Averaging 9.8 ppg in last 10 games
G	55	Ahmad Harrison	6-1	190	Sr.	9.1	2.1	38.6	10+ points in four of last five
Top Players Off the Bench
Pos.	No.	Name	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	PPG	RPG	FG%	Note
G	1	KJ Swain, Jr.	6-1	165	R-Sr.	1.9	0.8	27.6	Saw minutes at Chicago State
G	2	Zion Russell	6-2	185	R-Sr.	12.2	3.9	41.3	Leads NEC in steals in league play
G	3	Brandon Russell	6-5	185	Fr.	2.3	1.2	24.1	Had three assists at Chicago State
G/F	4	Ralph Martino, Jr.	6-6	180	So.	6.7	2.4	55.4	Has not played in last eight tilts
G	7	Paris Papadatos	6-4	185	Fr.	4.8	1.1	41.3	Scored 10 points against LIU
F	20	Cam Tweedy	6-6	240	R-Sr.	3.9	2.6	54.9	11 points, 11 rebounds at Chicago State

SELECT GAME NOTES VS. WAGNER (FULL GAME NOTES PDF) 

FRANKIES TIDBITS IN A FLASH
• Saturday's game between Saint Francis and Wagner marks the 88th meeting in the all-time series dating back to the 1956-57 season.
• Prior to the Red Flash's 71-69 win against the Seahawks in the NEC Quarterfinals on March 5, 2025, Wagner had won the previous five meetings and 10 of the last 11 matchups.
• With its 71-69 win in Staten Island on January 8, the Frankies have won back-to-back games for the first time since a three-game winning streak when Saint Francis won both games at the Spiro Sports Center and one game at home in 2018-19 and 2019-20. The Red Flash are looking to win consecutive games in Loretto against the Seahawks for the first time since an 85-68 win on January 3, 2015, and a 73-65 victory on January 2, 2016.
• Wagner will be the final regular-season game at DeGol Arena for the fifth time in program history. The last time the Seahawks were the final home game, the Staten Island program defeated the Red Flash 68-58 on February 26, 2023. The outcome did not change the No. 3 seeding for the Frankies, since FDU had already won earlier in the day to clinch the No. 2 seed.
• Wagner was also the final NEC home game in 1984-85, 1988-89, and 1996-97. Just like this year, all three teams finished the regular season on the road, with the 1984-85 and 1988-89 teams ending with a three-game road trip, while the 1996-97 team had its final two games away from Loretto.
• If you are curious, Mount St. Mary's was the most played opponent to close out the regular season at DeGol Arena with seven times, while Monmouth and LIU are second with six occurrences, and Wagner and Robert Morris each happened five times.
• Our color analyst, Saint Francis Hall of Famer Eric Taylor, played his final regular season game in Loretto against Mount St. Mary's and posted 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 77-67 win against the Mount on February 19, 1998.
• Associate head coach Devin Sweetney's final game in Loretto was a 73-68 win against Sacred Heart on February 20, 2010, where he tallied 31 points and 13 rebounds. Both Sweetney and Taylor's final games in a Red Flash uniform were against Mount St. Mary's in the NEC Quarterfinals. Taylor had 15 points and 11 rebounds on February 26, 1998, and Sweetney tallied 21 points on March 4, 2010.
• The Saint Francis men's basketball coaching staff is wearing lapel puzzle piece pins as part of Coaches for Autism Awareness (formerly known as Coaches Powering Forward) Week, which is February 21-28. It is an annual initiative that brings the NCAA and High School Basketball communities together to champion Autism Speaks' mission. This refreshed name reflects feedback from participants and supporters, clarifying the program's purpose while continuing to celebrate its impact. Since 2014, Autism Speaks has distributed over 11,000 puzzle piece pins to more than 450 colleges and high schools, giving coaches, staff, and broadcasters a way to promote inclusivity at games. The inspiring Coach Pat Skerry of the Towson Tigers men's basketball team and Coach Colleen Mullen of the UAlbany Great Danes women's basketball team continue to lead their programs, united by their personal experiences raising children on the spectrum.
• Another year comes to a close at DeGol Arena. Since the building opened in 1972-73, the Frankies are 422-282 overall, and since joining the NEC in 1980-81, Saint Francis is 218-173 in 45 years in the league. In 31 of the 45 years, the Red Flash has posted a winning record in the NEC.
• Twice in the history of the building, the Frankies only lost one game (1973-74, 11-1; 1990-91, 15-1). That 1990-91 team was perfect 8-0 In the NEC regular season, while 1989-90 (7-1), 2003-04 (8-1), 2004-05 (8-1), and 2019-20 (8-1), the squad only lost one league game defending DeGol. 

AN SFU WIN WOULD...
• Be the third straight win against Wagner
• Win the final home regular season home game for the 26th time since joining the NEC 
• Be the fourth time the Red Flash downs Wagner in last home game
• End a seven-game losing streak, its longest since an eight-game losing streak in 2012-13
• Be the first win in the month of February
• Give the seniors the win on Senior Day
• Be the 1,194th win in NCAA team history

ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS
• Wagner comes into the contest 10-16 overall and 5-10 in NEC play after defeating Mercyhurst 83-80 in overtime on Thursday. The Seahawks are 4-3 in the last seven tilts.
• Nick Jones paced the Seahawks against the Lakers with 19 points. Michael Cooper (15 points), Travis Gray (14 points, 10 rebounds), and Binael Basil (13 points) also found double figures. 
• Jones leads the team with 14.7 points per game and 46 steals.

LAST TIME WE MET
• Ralph Martino, Jr. gave the Red Flash the lead for good on two free throws with 91 seconds left, and then Saint Francis had to have one more defensive stand to hold on to a 71-69 win at Wagner on January 8. 
• After a Seahawks basket and a Saint Francis missed shot, Wagner had the ball with four seconds left with a chance to tie or even win the game. Nick Jones drove down the court and right down the center of the lane. Gestin Liberis stood his ground, and Jones' shot attempt did not fall. Martino came down with the rebound as time expired to secure the second straight Red Flash win.
• Ahmad Harrison paced the Red Flash with 16 points, while Chris Moncrief added 15 points and Martino had 10 points off the bench.
• John Awoke led the Seahawks with 12 points, while Eddie Placer and Binael Basil chipped in 10 points. 

LAST TIME OUT
• LIU closed on a 9-2 run and scored the decisive points with 2.8 seconds left to defeat Saint Francis 91-89 on Thursday. 
• Skylar Wicks paced the Red Flash with 25 points, while Victor Payne added a career-high 23 points. Chris Moncrief (11 points), Gestin Liberis (10 points), and Paris Papadatos (10 points) also scored double figures.
• It marked the first time two Red Flash players reached 20 points in a game since Riley Parker scored 23 points and Bobby Rosenberger III had 21 points against Lehigh on November 26, 2024. It was also the first time in NEC play that two players reached 20 points, since Josh Cohen scored 31 and Maxwell Land had 24 against FDU on February 23, 2023.
• Liberis gave Saint Francis an 87-82 lead on two free throws with 3:24 left. The redshirt junior added two free throws with 99 seconds left for an 89-87 advantage.  After Liberis gave the Red Flash the five-point lead, Saint Francis had one missed field goal and four turnovers over the next three minutes and 12 seconds to allow the Sharks to tie the game at 89 with 12.5 seconds left. Moncrief inbounded the ball to Wicks, who drove down the court and had a good look at a jumper with seven seconds left, but it bounced in and out. Liberis tried a putback that also did not fall, and LIU grabbed the rebound  and was fouled with 2.8 seconds left. The Sharks made both free throws to take the lead. 


TRENDING UP
• Coming off a career-high 33 points, graduate student Skylar Wicks posted his second-straight 20-point game for the second time this season and third time in his career, he has tallied consecutive 20-point games after he registered four-straight 20-point games at Incarnate Word in 2023-24.  Wicks averaged 23.5 points per game in those four games in 2023, while he is averaging 29.0 points per game. Keeping this pace for the rest of the season might be tough, but with four games left, he needs 104 points to reach 1,000 for his career.  He has 11 20-point performances this season and 18 in his career. 
• Sophomore Victor Payne became the fourth different player to score 20 points in a game this season, joining Wicks, senior Chris Moncrief, and redshirt senior Zion Russell. Payne's previous best was 15 points, which he accomplished three times, including at Le Moyne on February 7.  Payne has registered back-to-back 10-point games three times this season and is looking to turn the trick for the fourth time. He has also been big on the boards with six rebounds in three of his last four contests and an NEC career-high seven caroms against LIU.
• Moncrief scored double figures for the seventh time this season and the 16th time in his career.  After starting the season 4-0 when the senior reached double figures, the Red Flash has lost its last three games when he gets to 10 points.
• Redshirt senior Gestin Liberis is averaging 9.8 points per game in his last 10 games. He has eight games with at least eight points and four double-figure performances in that span.
• Freshman Paris Papadatos reached double figures for the first time in NEC play against LIU. It was the first time that he reached double figures since he had 15 points at Radford on December 7. He had nine points and the shot heard around Loretto take one against FDU on January 4 with the buzzer beater. 
• Speaking of dramatic finishes, the Red Flash won its first three NEC games by three points or less.  Since Saint Francis defeated Chicago State 80-61, the Red Flash has lost the last seven, but the Frankies have lost three of those games by five points or less and a pair of two-point losses. In four of the losses, Saint Francis had a chance to tie the game in the waning minutes, but could not, so the team is not far off. 


LEAGUE LEADERS
• Redshirt senior Skylar Wicks ranks second in scoring (18.4 ppg), fourth in defensive rebounds (5.42 rpg), fourth in 3-point  percentage (39.6), fourth in 3-pointers made (2.46 pg), fourth in minutes played (33.54 mpg), fifth in rebounding (7.0 rpg), seventh in steals (1.50 spg). The redshirt senior fuels the NEC in 3-pointers made (2.62 pg).
• Wicks ranks 80th in defensive rebounds, and 85th in scoring in NCAA Division I. before play on Thursday. 
• Redshirt senior Zion Russell ranks fifth in steals (1.67 spg), eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3), eighth in assists (2.96 apg), and 17th in scoring (12.2 ppg). Russell leads in steals (2.18 spg) and is second in 3-point field goal percentage (45.7) in league games.
• Senior Ahmad Harrison is ninth in steals (1.34 spg). 
• Sophomore Victor Payne ranks sixth in 3-point percentage (39.0), and second in 3-point field goal percentage in NEC play (46.2). Redshirt junior Gestin Liberis is eighth in offensive rebounds (2.19 rpg), and third in the category in league games (2.64 rpg).
• Saint Francis leads the NEC in 3-pointers made (8.15 pg), and ranks third in steals (7.67 spg), third in turnover margin (+0.11), third in assists (13.78 apg), fifth in scoring offense (72.1 ppg), fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (34.8), fifth in assist to turnover ratio (1.06), and fifth in offensive rebounds (10.42 rpg). In NEC games, the Red Flash leads the league in scoring (75.4 ppg), 3-point field goal percentage (37.8), and 3-pointers made (8.79 pg), and is second, assists (14.00), and steals (7.50 spg).

IN THE LO'
• Saint Francis is 5-7 at DeGol Arena, including 3-5 in NEC play at home in 2025-26.
• The Red Flash are averaging 77.9 points per game, and are allowing 75.4 points per game. The Red Flash was coming off back-to-back wins against Stonehill (W, 63-61, January 17) and Chicago State (W, 81-60, January 23) before falling in its last three home games.
• Saint Francis has three players averaging double figures at home: Redshirt senior Skylar Wicks (18.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg), redshirt senior Zion Russell (12.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg), and senior Ahmad Harrison (10.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg). 
• Wicks has scored double figures in nine of the 10 games he has played at home, with four 20-point games and two double-doubles. He has posted double figures in his last seven home games and is averaging 19.8 points per game in that span, including scoring 20 points three times, and is averaging 29.0 points per game in his last two games thanks to his career-high 33 points against Mercyhurst on February 14 and 25 points against LIU on February 19.
• Russell has reached double figures in eight of the 11 games at DeGol Arena. He notched a career-high 23 points against Mount St. Mary's on November 11 in his Loretto debut. 
• Harrison has seven 10+ point games in the Lo' with three games of at least 16 points in his last four tilts in the 814. 
• Senior Chris Moncrief has four double-figure point performances in his last seven games at home, with a DeGol Arena career-high 18 points against Chicago State on January 23. 
• Sophomore Victor Payne has five 10+ point games at home and became the third player to reach 20 points at home with a career-high 23 points against LIU on February 19. 
• Redshirt junior Gestin Liberis (three games), sophomore Ralph Martino, Jr. (two games), junior Trey Weiand (one game), and freshman Paris Papadatos (one game) have also posted a 10-point game at home this season.
• Saint Francis will finish with a losing record at DeGol Arena for the 14th time since joining the NEC and the first time since 2023-24.


POSTSEASON CHASE
• The good news is that if Saint Francis can figure it out and win its last four games, the Red Flash can still finish as high as fifth, with help. The bad news could be that the Frankies need to win at least one of their final four games to make the postseason.
• Due to the postponement of the New Haven game on January 24, Saint Francis is a half-game ahead of Chicago State (in the loss column), and a half-game behind Wagner (in the win column) because the Red Flash has played one less game. That advantage goes away on Tuesday when the game is made up in West Haven, Conn. 
• A win on Saturday gives the Red Flash a leg up on a postseason berth since it would sweep the season series with Wagner, so any tiebreaker that involves the two teams, the Frankies would win those tiebreakers. A loss and things get really hairy because the Seahawks defeated Le Moyne 79-78 on February 5 and Mercyhurst 83-80 in overtime on February 19. A Wagner win would give the Seahawks a two-win advantage, so Saint Francis would have to win at least two of its last four as long as one of those wins is CCSU if CCSU stays in second place. A loss to Wagner and CCSU would push the chances to make the postseasion to how the Frankies and Cougars finish.  
• If the season ends with the Red Flash tied with Chicago State, the Cougars would earn the final spot. The two teams split the season series, and Chicago State beat Mercyhurst 78-74 on January 31 and New Haven 63-57 on February 7. Mercyhurst and FDU are currently tied at 8-7, so that pod would not solve the tiebreaker. However, the New Haven win currently trumps the Red Flash's 63-61 win against Stonehill on January 19 since the Chargers are a game and a half ahead of the Skyhawks.
• To make matters worse is that Chicago State finishes the season against CCSU (February 21), LIU (February 26), and Wagner (February 28). A Cougars win against CCSU or LIU would mean that the Red Flash would need two wins to return to the postseason. A Cougars win only against Wagner and a Saint Francis win against CCSU gives the Red Flash the tiebreaker. 

ON THIS DATE
• Saint Francis is 9-13 overall, 6-3 at home, and 3-7 in NEC play on this date. It will be the second time the Red Flash has faced Wagner on this date, with the Seahawks winning both: an 80-72 double-overtime win in 2008 and the last time the team played on this date, a 70-68 decision in Staten Island in 2021.
• Ben Millaud-Meunier registered 26 points, and Anthony Ervin added 22 points to help Saint Francis defeat FDU 69-63 on this date in 2013. 
• Mark Flagg posted 20 points, while Isaiah Blackmon (19 points) and Keith Braxton (14 points, 10 rebounds) also posted double figures in an 81-71 win against St. Francis Brooklyn on this date in 2019, the last time the Red Flash played on this date at home.  
FUN FACTS...
• After losing back-to-back games for the third time in his career, Maurice Stokes helped the Frankies win the final four games of the 1952-53 season, starting with 30 points at Baldwin-Wallace on this date in 1953. In Stokes' four years in Loretto, Saint Francis had six two-game losing streaks, but, just as in the win against Baldwin-Wallace, Stokes never endured a three-game losing streak. He averaged 19.8 points per game in the game that ended a two-game losing streak, including 30-point games against Baldwin-Wallace and Iona on December 16, 1955. He lost the final two games of Frankies' career in the National Invitation Tournament, so he did not have a chance to end that two-game losing streak.