Saint Francis Men's Basketball Team Loses Non-Conference Game to Robert Morris, 79-70
A Close Game with a Surprising Twist
In a thrilling basketball showdown on Saturday, Saint Francis and Robert Morris battled it out in a non-conference game that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The Colonials emerged victorious with a score of 79-70, leaving the Red Flash with a tough lesson learned.
Key Players and Statistics
Skylar Wicks led the Red Flash with an impressive performance, scoring 19 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists, and stealing the ball twice. Zion Russell contributed 15 points, Ahmad Harrison added 11 points, and Ralph Martino, Jr. scored 11 points as well, ensuring a strong showing from the team.
The Turning Point
The game's turning point occurred when Saint Francis held a commanding 24-14 lead. However, the Colonials went on a remarkable 23-12 run to close the half, taking a 37-34 lead into the locker room. This momentum shift proved to be a turning point, as Robert Morris never looked back.
Post-Game Insights
Head coach Luke McConnell shared his thoughts, stating, "I thought our team took a big step today. I loved the way we moved and shared the ball, and I thought our guys had better communication and moved the ball well. Not getting the result hurts, but I'm proud of the effort. We can learn from some good things and take them as we build into conference play."
Skylar Wicks also offered insights, "We have a little break, so the guys will get a chance for their bodies to rest. Then we get back and focus on keeping the things that we are doing well and cutting out the things that are hurting us."
Highlights and Moments
The Red Flash demonstrated their offensive prowess, going on a 16-5 run to take a 22-12 lead with 9:51 left in the first half, thanks to Victor Payne's five points. Early in the second half, Saint Francis trimmed the margin to 45-44 with 15:24 left, with Russell scoring all eight points in the run. The Red Flash also had a 10-5 spurt late in the game, closing the gap to 71-65 with 2:42 left, with Wicks contributing six points.
Player Achievements
Wicks narrowly missed achieving his third consecutive 20-point performance, having previously scored 22 points against Temple and No. 23 Florida. This was the second time this season he reached 19 points, and the eighth time he scored 18 points or more in a game this season. He also grabbed eight rebounds for the fifth time this season and the first time since playing at Xavier on December 1. Russell scored 10+ points for the third straight game, a first for him in a Red Flash uniform, after achieving the feat twice last season with Niagara. He has recorded exactly 15 points three times this season, along with a career-high 22-point performance in his DeGol Arena debut against Mount St. Mary's on November 11.
Harrison had his fourth 10+ point game this season and the first since scoring 12 points against Franciscan on November 29. Martino reached double figures for the second time in his career, and the first time against a Division I opponent, after scoring 12 points against Penn State Shenango on December 3. He is averaging 9.0 points per game in his last two contests.
Team Statistics
Saint Francis hit 11 3's this season, the second time they have achieved double-figure treys in a game this season, and as a result, they are giving away a free Big Mac through the McDonald's promotion. This marks the fifth time the two teams have met in non-conference action since their last encounter in the NEC Championship Game in 2020, following Robert Morris' departure for the Horizon League.
Upcoming Games
Saint Francis will have a 13-day break for Christmas and New Year's before defending its NEC Tournament title against Le Moyne at home on Friday, January 2, at 7 p.m.
