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Braxton helps Flash break away for win

PHILADELPHIA — Keith Braxton scored 11 of his season-high 26 points as Saint Francis blew past a late tie to secure a 79-63 win against Saint Joseph’s Saturday night, handing coach Rob Krimmel his 100th win.

The Red Flash (3-4), who led for nearly 27 minutes, fell into a 58-58 tie after Saint Joseph’s rallied from as many as 14 points down. But over the final eight minutes, Braxton knocked down a pair of jump shots, made four straight free throws and ended the game with a 3-pointer.

It was a one possession game, 66-63 in favor of SFU at the under-4 media timeout, but Saint Francis held the Hawks scoreless over the final 3:57 to pull away. Junior Mark Flagg, who finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, had a tip-in to put the Red Flash up five and Braxton followed with a strong move as Saint Francis ended the game on a 13-0 run.

Krimmel, in his eighth season, is just the second coach in Saint Francis history to reach 100 wins.

Isaiah Blackmon secured his third career double-double with 19 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Mark Flagg added 11 points, including six in the Red Flash’s game-ending run.

Saint Francis improves to 1-2 vs. Atlantic 10 opponents this season with losses at VCU and Richmond. Saint Francis led the Spiders by 10 with under two minutes to play in an overtime defeat.

Ryan Daly, a University of Delaware transfer, led Saint Joseph’s (2-6) with 23 points and seven rebounds, Lorenzo Edwards chipped in 14 points, making four 3-pointers.

SAINT FRANCIS 79 (3-4): Thompson 4-9 0-0 9, Kuzavas 0-0 0-0 0, Blackmon 7-20 2-2 19, Braxton 9-17 6-6 26, Gaskins 3-4 2-2 8, Ikediashi 0-0 0-0 0, Flagg 5-7 1-4 11, Meredith 0-2 0-0 0, Dixon-Conover 0-0 0-0 0, Stewart 2-4 2-2 6. Totals: 30-63 13-16 79.

SAINT JOSEPH’S 63 (2-6): Edwards 5-10 0-0 14, Longpre 2-9 0-0 5, Daly 6-16 8-8 23, Moore 2-9 5-5 9, Brown 2-9 0-0 4, Knox 0-2 0-0 0, Douglas 4-8 0-0 8, Freeman 0-0 0-2 0, Ashley 0-4 0-0 0. Totals: 21-67 13-15 63.

Halftime–Saint Francis 37-28. 3-Point Goals–Saint Francis 6-14 (Blackmon 3-7, Braxton 2-3, Thompson 1-2, Meredith 0-2), Saint Joseph’s 8-29 (Edwards 4-9, Daly 3-4, Longpre 1-3, Knox 0-2, Moore 0-2, Douglas 0-2, Ashley 0-3, Brown 0-4). Fouled Out–None. Rebounds–Saint Francis 40 (Blackmon 12), Saint Joseph’s 35 (Longpre 10). Assists–Saint Francis 9 (Braxton 4), Saint Joseph’s 13 (Edwards, Moore 3). Total Fouls–Saint Francis 17, Saint Joseph’s 16. Technicals–Knox.

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