WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

>> Temple defeated Saint Francis in non-conference men’s basketball action on Sunday. 

>> Skylar Wicks paced the Red Flash with 22 points and five rebounds.

>> Zion Russell added 14 points and a career-high seven assists. 

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME

The Owls scored 12 of the first 14 points and never looked back en route to a 95-67 victory. The Frankies played with more energy in a competitive second half, but could not overcome the 23-point deficit at halftime in the first meeting between the two teams in 55 years. 

FLASH MOMENTS 

Saint Francis scored four of the last six points in the first half and the first four of the second half. Chris Moncrief and Cam Tweedy scored at the end of the first half and Gestin Liberis and Russell posted the first four points of the final frame.

Wicks fueled a 16-5 run with 11 points, including an 8-0 of his own in a span of 59 seconds in the second half. Wicks then had a 6-0 run on a traditional 3-point play and a 3-pointer midway through the second half.

FLASH NUGGETS

Wicks, who was held to three points in the first half, posted his fourth 20-point game for the Red Flash and the seventh of his career. It was his first 20-point game since the Thanksgiving holiday. The Jersey City, N.J., native, registered his nine game with at least five boards.

Russell reached double figures for the seventh time this season and has not been held in back-to-back games without reaching double figures this season. The redshirt senior finished with a career-high seven assists. It is the first time the Red Flash had seven assists against a Division I opponent since Riley Parker had seven dimes against Lehigh on November 26, 2024. 

Liberis, a native of Havertown, Pa., played in front of his hometown crowd for the first time in his career. His brother, a student at Temple, worked the game for the ESPN+ crew.  Liberis finished with six points and six rebounds, marking the sixth consecutive game he has registered at least five boards. 


NEXT ON TAP
Saint Francis returns to action at nationally-ranked Florida on Wednesday for the final non-conference road game of the season. Game time is 6:30 p.m. and can be seen on the SEC Network. 
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