Saint Francis coach Rob Krimmel says Luke Ruggery (3) is one of his defensive leaders when on the court for the Red Flash. / Photo for the Mirror by Chuck Meyers

Luke Ruggery was honored as part of Saint Francis’ senior night recognition on Saturday.

Then he went out and played his best game of the season.

The former Bishop Guilfoyle standout made 5-for-5 from 3-point range and scored 17 points in 35 minutes — season-highs in Northeast Conference competition — and had no turnovers in the Red Flash’s loss to Wagner.

SFU previously clinched a first-round NEC playoff game and will host Central Connecticut State on Wednesday (7 p.m.) at the DeGol Arena.

Ruggery, who has graduated with a finance degree and is working on his MBA, is eligible to return for the 2023-24 season but has deferred that decision.

“That’s still up in the air,” he said.

He had a conversation with Flash coach Rob Krimmel, who said “I’d love to have him back” but regardless of the future, “Luke deserved to have a senior night.”

Ruggery has been peaking at the right time. He’s started six straight games, leads the NEC in 3-point percentage at 46.3 (37-of-79) and has made 10 of his last 14 treys.

“You want to be playing your best basketball at this time of the year, and that momentum is important going into March,” Ruggery, who averages 4.4 points per game, said.

Krimmel has been most impressed with Ruggery’s leadership and adaptability. Though Ruggery has shot well, Krimmel said, “I can’t keep him off the court because he talks our defense so well. He understands what we’re doing offensively and defensively.”

Plus, even at just 165 pounds, the 5-foot-11 Ruggery is a weight-room fixture.

“When you look back at his time here, the first year when he sat out (redshirt), I don’t know that I’ve had a player affect a program without being on the court like he has,” Krimmel said. “He really impacted a group of people. He did that at BG. If he was going to work out — he would grab three-four people with him. He’s in unbelievable shape. Just the way he’s worked out, he’s had a big influence on (leading scorer) Josh Cohen.

“He worked his way from a redshirt guy to a role guy to now a valuable part of our ability to impact the game on both sides.”

Ruggery scored a then-record 1,507 points at BG (since broken by Patrick Haigh), earned all-state honors and was a two-time Mirror player of the year (2018-19).

“When we signed him, everybody knew he could score,” Krimmel said. “But the biggest question was, can he defend at that level? We’re playing guards in this league who are lightning quick and strong. When you talk about a competitor and a kid with drive …that’s what separates him — and he has to. He’s the smallest guy on our team.”

Ruggery said his biggest adjustment has been the speed of college basketball.

“You have to make your decisions much faster,” he said. “Everyone is a 1,000-point scorer (in high school). It’s a matter of playing the hardest and making the most happen — doing the little things. When you have scorers of the same caliber, you have to think of when to take the right shot.”

Regardless of what lies ahead, Ruggery is grateful for his Red Flash experience.

“It’s always nice being able to see my family and friends coming from home — seeing similar faces from when I was in high school,” he said. “It’s been a good four years.”