The men’s basketball team split its two games last weekend, knocking off previous NEC-unbeaten LIU, 74-64, last Friday, before dropping a 68-66 decision to Wagner on Sunday.
In front of a rowdy crowd, the Flash opened the game against LIU with a 10-0 run that set the tone for the rest of the game. SFU led by as many as 17 (29-12) at one point in the first half.
Saint Francis would surrender that lead however, with LIU tying it late in the first half before three Riley Parker free throws gave the Red Flash a 38-35 lead at the half.
“When a team’s making a run back at you, it’s about how you respond,” said Flash head coach Rob Krimmel. “You can get confident, but you can’t get cocky because that’s when somebody’s going to punch you right back.”
The Red Flash counterpunched the Sharks’ late first-half punch, outscoring LIU by seven in the second half to defeat the league’s top team, 74-64.
Parker exploded for a career-high 29 points and was incredibly efficient, netting his 29 on just 14 shots. The 6-2 junior point guard got it done at all three levels from mid-range, three-point range and the free throw line, where he went seven-for-seven.
The 29 points marked the most points scored by an SFU player since Josh Cohen netted 31 against Fairleigh Dickinson on Feb. 23, 2023.
In addition to Parker’s contribution, the Flash were victorious last Friday in large part due to Daemar Kelly’s performance. In addition to scoring a career-high 11 points, the sophomore transfer from Quinnipiac shut down the NEC’s second-leading scorer, Malachi Davis.
The Sharks’ guard scored just four points on 2-for-21 shooting on the night. Davis entered the night averaging more than 17 ppg.
Sunday’s game started well for the Flash, but a 20-1 run by Wagner late in the second half propelled the Seahawks a 68-66 win.
SFU was again led in scoring by Parker (15 points) and freshman Juan Cranford added 14 off the bench, but the Flash were unable to hold onto a 17-point second-half lead.
Full-court pressure and timely three-point shooting by the Seahawks doomed SFU’s chances of stringing together consecutive victories.
Saint Francis (8-14, 3-5 NEC) returns to action this Thursday when the Flash travel to Mercyhurst for an NEC game that tips off at 7 p.m. The game against the Lakers can be viewed on NEC FrontRow.
