| Saint Francis Probable Starters |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
FG% |
Note |
| G |
0 |
Chris Moncrief |
6-6 |
190 |
Sr. |
9.2 |
2.6 |
49.2 |
Scored 13 points at New Haven |
| G |
2 |
Zion Russell |
6-2 |
185 |
R-Sr. |
12.6 |
4.0 |
42.9 |
Averaging 17.5 ppg in last two games |
| G |
F |
Skylar Wicks |
6-6 |
190 |
R-Sr. |
17.8 |
6.9 |
40.5 |
Averaging 17.5 ppg in last four road games |
| G |
15 |
Victor Payne |
6-4 |
190 |
So. |
6.9 |
3.6 |
43.8 |
Career-high 23 points against LIU |
| F |
21 |
Gestin Liberis |
6-9 |
225 |
R-Jr. |
6.9 |
4.9 |
54.4 |
Scored career-high 19 points at New Haven |
| 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. |
2.0 |
0.8 |
30.0 |
Started and had three points on Senior Day |
| G |
3 |
Brandon Russell |
6-5 |
185 |
Fr. |
2.2 |
1.1 |
23.8 |
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 10 tilts |
| G |
7 |
Paris Papadatos |
6-4 |
185 |
Fr. |
4.7 |
1.1 |
40.4 |
Scored 10 points against LIU |
| F |
20 |
Cam Tweedy |
6-6 |
240 |
R-Sr. |
3.9 |
2.6 |
56.3 |
11 points, 11 rebounds at Chicago State |
| G |
55 |
Ahmad Harrison |
6-1 |
190 |
Sr. |
8.6 |
2.2 |
37.8 |
10+ points in four of last seven |
SELECT GAME NOTES VS. STONEHILL (FULL GAME NOTES PDF)
FRANKIES TIDBITS IN A FLASH
• Thursday's game between Saint Francis and Stonehill marks the eighth meeting in the all-time series dating back to the 2022-23 season.
• The Skyhawks have won all three meetings against the Red Flash at Merkert Court, and hold a 4-3 edge in the overall matchup.
• Saint Francis improved to 3-1 at DeGol Arena thanks to senior
Ahmad Harrison's buzzer beater for a 63-61 win on January 19.
• The state of Massachusetts has not been kind to the Frankies, with the Red Flash only having one win in eight attempts. Saint Francis defeated Merrimack 62-46 on January 15, 2022, after spotting the Warriors a 10-point lead to start the game. All of the games have been under the NEC umbrella except for a loss at UMass in the 1980-81 season.
• That season, the squad defeated Merrimack, which was also the last time the Frankies won two games in New England after also defeating CCSU 79-63 on February 24, 2022. The Red Flash lost its next nine games in Connecticut and Massachusetts until Saint Francis defeated CCSU 46-43 in the NEC Championship Game on March 11, 2025. The Red Flash has won two straight in New England for the first time since defeating Bryant 71-65 on January 21, 2016, and CCSU 79-64 on January 23, 2016.
• With its 73-67 win at New Haven on Tuesday, Saint Francis defeated its 24th different NEC opponent in the 45 years it has been in the league. The squad has at least one win against every team that has played in the ECAC Metro/NEC in the 45 years of the league
• The victory also ended an eight-game losing streak that started with a loss to New Haven at home on January 31.
• The last time the Red Flash endured an eight-game losing streak was the 2012-13 season, when head coach
Luke McConnell was a graduate assistant in the Saint Francis athletics office and the year before he joined the men's basketball coaching staff.
• That season, the skid started against another New England team, Bryant, at home, and the Red Flash ended the losing streak on the road, at St. Francis Brooklyn.
• It was the 14th time in the last 45 years Saint Francis lost eight or more games in a row, but just the fifth time it occurred in league play.
• Saint Francis was 4-5 in the regular season last year in games decided by six points or less and then went 3-1 in the postseason, including that devastating 70-68 loss to Alabama State in the NCAA Play-in Game. In 2025-26, the Red Flash was 3-1 in games decided by six points or less, but it lost its next four games by that margin. The six-point win against the Chargers evens the Red Flash's record at 4-5 this season,
• After the game at Stonehill, Saint Francis ends the regular season at CCSU on Saturday. The Red Flash concludes the season in Connecticut for the sixth time (2001-02, 2005-06, 2011-12, 2018-19, and 2021-22), and finished in the northeast for the seventh time after traveling to Bryant in 2012-13. In 2018-19 and 2021-22, Saint Francis advanced to the NEC Tournament, but did not in the other four years it ended the regular season in the New England area.
AN SFU WIN WOULD...
• Be the team's third two-game winning streak of the season
• Be the first win against Stonehill at Merkert Court
• Be the third win on the road this season
• Be the first regular season win in the Bay State since defeating Merrimack 62-46 on January 15, 2022
• Win both games against Stonehill in a season series for the first time
• Be the second win in the month of February
• Be the team's third-straight win in New England dating back to the NEC Championship Game last season at CCSU
ABOUT THE SKYHAWKS
• Stonehill comes into the contest 10-19 overall and 7-9 in NEC play after defeating Le Moyne 77-68 on Saturday to end a five-game losing streak. The skid was similar to the one Saint Francis just went through, as it started and ended against the Dolphins, while the Red Flash had an eight-game skid that started and ended by New Haven.
• Davante Hackett paced the Skyhawks with 30 points. It marked the 10th time an NEC player scored 30 points in a game and the eighth time it occurred in NEC play. Chas Stinson added 16 points, Hermann Koffi had 12 points, and Ridvan Tutic chipped in 10 points against the Dolphins.
• Koffi paces Stonehill with 13.1 points per game. Hackett (12.0 ppg) and Stinson (11.1 ppg) are also averaging double figures.
LAST TIME WE MET
• Ahmad Harrison was the latest to hand Saint Francis a dramatic victory with his 3-pointer as time expired to lift the Red Flash past Stonehill 63-61 on January 19.
• Harrison was clutch in the final 63 seconds after he tied the game at 58 on a triple and then hit the buzzer beater.
• It was the second buzzer-beater for the Red Flash in 15 days after Paris Papadatos beat the horn in an 85-82 win against FDU on January 4. Harrison had the assist on Papadatos' game-winner.
• Harrison finished with a team-high 16 points, while Chris Moncrief (15 points) and Skylar Wicks (11 points) also reached double figures in the win.
• Chas Stinson powered the Skyhawks with 19 points, while Hermann Koffi had 18 points.
LAST TIME OUT
• Gestin Liberis sealed the win with a huge dunk with 20 seconds left to finish with a career-high 19 points in a 73-67 win against New Haven on Tuesday.
• Skylar Wicks, who gave the Red Flash the lead it would not relinquish with an 11-2 run in the first half, finished with 13 points.
• Zion Russell registered 14 points, and Chris Moncrief added 13 points.
• The Chargers used all its battery power at the end of the game, with a 13-4 run, to whittle a 65-54 deficit to 69-67 with 22.8 seconds left. Wicks inbounded the ball to Russell, who found Harrison on the other side of the court. Harrison then had a touch pass ahead to Moncrief, who found a wide-open Liberis for a monster dunk to seal the victory with 16.6 seconds remaining.
• Saint Francis went 17-for-17 from the free-throw line in the game on Tuesday. The last time the team was perfect, making at least 10, was when the Frankies went 10-for-10 against LIU on February 8, 2012. It was the first time since the team went 21-for-21 against Youngstown State on December 4, 2002, that the team was perfect with more than 15 made charity tosses in a game.
TRENDING UP
• Redshirt junior Gestin Liberis might ask to have the final two games postponed and rescheduled to a different date. In the two games Saint Francis had rescheduled, the redshirt junior has posted the two best games of his collegiate career. He tallied a career-high 17 points and five rebounds at Chicago State on February 9, a game that was originally scheduled for January 29. He then bested that total with 19 points and nine rebounds against New Haven on February 24, a game originally scheduled for January 25 that was postponed by a snowstorm. In the two rescheduled games, Liberis did not miss a shot, going 13-for-13 from the floor, 1-for-1 from behind the arc, and 9-for-9 from the free throw line. The only negative from the game against the Chargers was that Liberis finished one rebound shy of his second double-double of the season and fourth of his career. It was the second time this season he finished in double figures, and he was one rebound shy of turning the truck after posting 14 points and nine rebounds against CCSU on January 17. The 14 points matched his best performance in league play until his two games against Chicago State and New Haven. He also finished once this season with 10 rebounds, but ended in single digits for points. Since that game against Chicago State, Liberis has scored at least eight points in the six games, with four 10+ point games. He is averaging 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in that span.
• Redshirt senior Zion Russell backed up his 21 points against Wagner on February 21 with 14 points against New Haven. He averaged 14.5 points in the two games against the Chargers. The redshirt senior registered back-to-back 10+ point games for the first time since he had 15 points at Le Moyne on February 7 and matched his career high with 23 points at Chicago State. Russell has posted double figures 12 times in his last 15 tilts, with six games with 15 points or more. In addition, he has dished out at least three assists 14 times this season, and has registered a steal in 16 consecutive games and 23 of the 26 games he has played.
• Redshirt senior Skylar Wicks gave the Red Flash the lead it would not relinquish when he scored 11 points in an 11-2 run to end the first half against New Haven. He returned to double figures with 13 points against the Chargers after he had his 10-game streak of 10+ points stopped against Wagner. He is averaging 16.9 points per game in NEC play, with six 20+ point games and four games of 24 or more points, three of which came in his last six contests.
• Senior Chris Moncrief also had 13 points to register at least 13 points in seven of the eight times he has reached double figures this season. Saint Francis started the season 4-0, with the senior scoring 10 points, before losing its last three games when he reached double figures. The Red Flash is 5-3 this season when he posts 10 points, and the team is 11-5 in his career when he reaches that mark.
LEAGUE LEADERS
• Redshirt senior Skylar Wicks ranks second in scoring (17.8 ppg), fourth in defensive rebounds (5.32 rpg), fourth in 3-point percentage (39.6), fourth in 3-pointers made (2.36 pg), fifth in rebounding (6.9 rpg), sixth in minutes played (33.33 mpg),seventh in free throw percentage (71.8), and seventh in steals (1.52 spg). The redshirt senior is seond in NEC in 3-pointers made (2.34pg).
• Wicks ranks 80th in defensive rebounds and 85th in scoring in NCAA Division I.
• Redshirt senior Zion Russell ranks fifth in steals (1.72 spg), seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4), ninth in assists (2.92 apg), and 16th in scoring (12.6 ppg). Russell leads in steals (2.25 spg) and 3-point field goal percentage (48.1) in league games.
• Sophomore Victor Payne ranks fifth in 3-point percentage (38.6), and second in 3-point field goal percentage in NEC play (46.2). Redshirt junior Gestin Liberis is ninth in offensive rebounds (2.26 rpg), and third in the category in league games (2.26 rpg).
• Saint Francis ranks second in NEC in 3-pointers made (7.90 pg), third in steals (7.66 spg), fourth in turnover margin (-0.03), fourth in assists (13.69 apg), fifth in scoring offense (71.6 ppg), fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (34.3), and fifth in offensive rebounds (10.3 rpg). In NEC games, the Red Flash leads the league in scoring (74.0 ppg), 3-point field goal percentage (36.6), and 3-pointers made (8.30 pg), and is second in assists (13.81), and steals (7.50spg).
ON THE ROAD
• Saint Francis id 2-14 on the road (2-12 on the road and 0-2 at a neutral site) and 2-5 in NEC play. The Red Flash picked up his second win with a 73-67 win at New Haven on Fe bruary 24 after a 71-69 decision at Wagner on January 8., its first road league game of the season.
• The Red Flash is averaging 67.8 points per game, while allowing 85.5 points per game.
• Redshirt senior Skylar Wicks is averaging 18.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while redshirt senior Zion Russell is averaging 12.1 points per game away from DeGol Arena.
• Wicks has posted double figures in 14 of the 15 games he has played, with seven 20-point games and a double-double. He registered a road high of 27 points at Le Moyne on February 5. It was his career-high until he registered 33 points against Mercyhurst at home on February 14.
• Russell has 10 10+ point games, including six in the last seven games he has played. He is averaging 14.4 points per game in that stretch, including tying his career-high with 23 points at Chicago State on February 9.
• Senior Ahmad Harrison (six games), senior Chris Moncrief (four games), redshirt junior Gestin Liberis (four games), sophomore Victor Payne (four games), senior Cam Tweedy (two games), sophomore Ralph Martino (two games), and freshman Paris Papadatos (one game) also have 10+ point games this season on the road. Liberis registered a career-high 19 points in his last road game at New Haven on February 24.
• Along with Russell and Wicks, Moncrief has a 20-point performance with 22 points at Mercyhurst on February 5. Tweedy is the only other player besides Wicks to have a road double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds at Chicago State.
POSTSEASON CHASE
• The 73-67 win at New Haven on Tuesday evened the Frankies with Chicago State at five wins each, but if the regular season ended today, the Cougars would be in the postseason over the Red Flash. Since Chicago State defeated CCSU on Saturday, that win trumps the Red Flash's best win against FDU (85-82, January 4) for the tiebreaker.
• The simple way to clinch a postseason berth is to have the Red Flash beat either Stonehill and CCSU, and Chicago State lose at LIU and Wagner.
• A Chicago State win in the last two, and the Red Flash might need to be victorious in its last two games. If the Cougars defeat LIU and lose to Wagner, the Red Flash would have to win its last two games to punch its ticket because it would have the ultimate tiebreaker with a win against the regular-season champion, something the Red Flash almost pulled off on February 19 before falling 91-89. If Chicago State is upended by LIU and wins against Wagner, then Saint Francis could get into the postseason with a win against CCSU, and if FDU finishes higher than Mercyhurst in the standings.
• With its win against New Haven, the Red Flash could also get in over Wagner. If Wagner loses its final two games, and the Red Flash beats CCSU, and if the Blue Devils finish ahead of both Le Moyne and Mercyhurst in the standings, the Frankies would win the tiebreaker. Two Saint Francis wins and two Wagner losses would also put the Red Flash over Wagner.
• Can the Frankies catch Stonehill? Yes, if the Red Flash wins its final two games and the Skyhawks lose their final two games, the two teams would finish 7-11, and the Saint Francis would win the tiebreaker because it swept the season series.
• The Red Flash can finish as high as sixth if Stonehill loses both and Wagner loses at least one. If Saint Francis finishes tied with Stonehill, Chicago State, or Wagner, the Red Flash would be the first team advancing out of a tiebreaker because the only way it could happen is if Saint Francis sweeps the season series against the Skyhawks.
• Saint Francis is the defending NEC Tournament Champion and looks to avoid joining 2006-07 Monmouth and 2013-14 LIU in teams that won the tournament the previous season and did not make the postseason. NOTE: Marist (1987-88) and Robert Morris (1990-91) did not participate in the NEC Tournament the year after it won because both teams were deemed ineligible. Robert Morris also won the 2020 NEC Tournament title and did not appear in the next season's tournament because it joined the Horizon League. FUN FACT: The 2006 Monmouth team won the NEC Tournament by a score of 49-48, which was the lowest tournament score before last year's 46-43 win for the Red Flash against CCSU.
ON THIS DATE
• Saint Francis is 7-12 overall, 3-7 on the road, and 5-8 in NEC play on this date.
• Associate head coach Devin Sweetney wrapped up his freshman campaign in a Red Flash uniform with 19 points in a 73-62 win against Monmouth on this date in 2007. Sweetney also had 22 points and 11 rebounds in a game against Robert Morris on this date in 2009.
FUN FACTS...
• Maurice Stokes scored 40 points in a 116-73 win against Washington and Jefferson on this date in 1955, the last game of the regular season before the National Invitation Tournament. It was the third of four times that Stokes scored 40 points in a game that season, and the 116 points were the second-most points in a game in program history.
