Saint Francis Falls Short on the Road to Mount Vernon Nazarene 89-81
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saint Francis (Ind.) (3-5, 0-1) | 35 | 46 | 81 |
|
Mount Vernon Nazarene (OH) (7-0, 1-0) | 45 | 44 | 89 |
MT. VERNON, Ohio - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) men's basketball team fell short on the road at Mount Vernon Nazarene University to open Crossroads League play on Wednesday, November 19.
MVNU controlled momentum early, taking a 45–36 halftime lead. Despite the SF Cougars' strong offensive showing, a big second half from Mount Vernon Nazarene and their ability to fend off several attempts by Saint Francis to rally in the second half proved to be the difference in the 89–81 road loss at Ariel Arena.
The SF Cougars shot 41.7% from the field and won the battle on the glass, outrebounding MVNU 27–19. Karson Rogers led SF with 22 points, 17 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Eugene Young Jr. added 20 points and three blocks, while Jevon Lewis chipped in 15 points, five steals and five assists. RJ Moore also contributed a well-rounded night with 16 points, going 5-9 from the field.
MVNU shot just under 50% overall, hit 17 free throws, and had four players score in double figures. MVNU's Peyton Hess was the night's top scorer with 23 points and 8 rebounds, while Isaiah Brown added 17 points.
Saint Francis made a strong run late but couldn't overcome MVNU's inside scoring and timely free throws. The loss drops the Cougars to 3–5 overall and 0–1 in Crossroads League play.
Saint Francis men's basketball (3-5, 0-1 CL) will look to regroup as league action continues on Saturday, November 22, as the Grace Lancers travel to the Hutzell Athletic Center for a 3:00 p.m. tipoff.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 21 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.
