WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Le Moyne scored a layup with 0.6 seconds left to upend Saint Francis 86-84 in NEC men's basketball action on Saturday.
>> Skylar Wicks paced the Red Flash with a season-high 27 points.
>> Victor Payne tied his career high with 15 points, while Zion Russell (15 points) and Ahmad Harrison (11 points) also reached double figures.
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
Saint Francis hit buzzer beaters twice at home this season. Things always seem to even out, and the other shoe dropped on Saturday, despite a hectic final 21 seconds that let the Red Flash tie the game.
Saint Francis went on a 9-2 run in a 17-second span to tie the game with 3.8 seconds left. Harrison started the surge with a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left. After Le Moyne made two free throws, Wicks made two free throws, and then Harrison caused a jump ball with the arrow pointing toward the Red Flash to give the ball back. Wicks then hit one from way downtown with 3.8 seconds left to tie the game at 84. The Dolphins then raced down the court and scored a layup with 0.6 seconds left. Russell heaved the ball, and Payne had a decent shot that hit the backboard and rim but did not fall through the hoop.
FLASH MOMENTS
The Red Flash started the game with a 7-0 run. Payne hit a trey,
Gestin Liberis hit a jumper, and Wicks dunked one home with 17:58 left in the first half.
Trailing 9-8, the Frankies went on a 25-14 run over a span of eight minutes and seven seconds. Payne had seven points, and
Chris Moncrief added six points in the surge.
FLASH NUGGETS
Wicks posted his most points in a single game in a Saint Francis uniform. The redshirt senior has nine 20-point games in a Saint Francis game and 16 in his career. His previous high in Loretto was 24 points at Lehigh on November 18 and at home against FDU on January 4. He added six rebounds to register his 17th game this season with at least five boards. It is the third-most points he has scored at the NCAA Division I level, after 29 points against Schroeder on November 14, 2023, and 28 points against Northern Arizona on December 9, 2023. He also had 27 points at New Orleans on February 3, 2024. All three of those games were during Wicks's time at Incarnate Word in 2023-24. Wicks finished the game on Saturday . It was the first time this season a player hit six from downtown, the first time since
Jeremy Clayville hit six triples against Penn State Schuylkill on November 20, 2024, and the most points scored since
Riley Parker had 28 points against FDU on February 22, 2025.
Payne reached 15 points for the third time this season and in his career. The sophomore also hit the total twice in non-conference play in back-to-back games. It was the third time this season he has scored in consecutive games after Payne had 14 points at Mercyhurst on Thursday.
Russell registered his fourth-straight game in double figures, averaging 15.0 points in this stretch, and he has five 10+ point games in the six NEC games he has played. Harrison has double figures in four of his last six games.
NEXT ON TAP
Saint Francis returns to action at Chicago State on Monday. Game time is 4 p.m. EST.
