JOLIET, Ill. - The University of St. Francis men's basketball shot better than 50 percent from long distance to earn a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) win on its home floor and snap a four-game losing skid in the process this Wednesday (Dec. 18) night as the Saints eclipsed the century mark with a 106-84 triumph over Cardinal Stritch at USF's Sullivan Center.
 

Guard Malik Bailey (SR/Tutwiler, Miss.)'s (SR/Tutwiler, Miss.) game-high 21 points was tops for USF, which improves to 5-6 overall and 3-4 in CCAC action to date this season. Guard Cole Micek (SR/Los Angeles, Calif.) finished with 19 points. Off the bench, guard Jorden Thornton (SR/Hoffman Estates, Ill.) tossed in 14 points, guard Carlos Tovias (JR/Corsicana, Texas) supplied 11, and guard Arnold Agard (JR/Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 10 as the Saints connected on 59.1 percent (39-66) of its field goal attempts. From long range, USF drained 20-of-35 three's for 57.1 percent and went eight-of-nine at the free throw line for 88.9 percent. Bailey was five-of-six in three-pointers, Thornton converted four-of-seven, guard Joey Buggemi (SO/Frankfort, Ill.) was three-of-four in triples, and Micek went three-of-five from downtown.
 

The last time USF scored at least 100 points in a contest was a season ago (Jan. 5) in a 116-99 conference home win over Robert Morris (Ill.).
 

USF, which shot 66.7 percent (22-33) and was 11-of-17 (64.7%) from beyond the three-point arc in the first half, led 62-48 at halftime with six straight points to close out the opening frame. Neither team was able to build up a sizeable lead in the first 20 minutes of play as noted by six ties. A Tyler Irvin (FR/Manteno, Ill.) jumper at the 11:28 mark snapped a 24-all tie and put the Saints up for good as the host team would go on to take a two-point lead (46-44) with 3:49 to go and increase their margin to 14 (62-48) on a layup by Micek with seven seconds remaining before the half. 
 

In the final 20 minutes, the Saints continued to shoot the ball well with 51.5 percent success (17-33) as USF's lead ballooned to 25 points at 78-53 with 15:09 on the clock following a three-ball by Buggemi. The Wolves managed to cut its deficit down to 18 points twice, including with 12 minutes remaining, but USF gradually built its advantage back up into the twenties in the next nine minutes. The Saints would surpass the century mark with 3:23 to go as Micek drained a three-pointer to give USF a 102-74 lead. The largest margin for the Saints' would come with just over two minutes left as Josh Chery (JR/Newark, N.J.)'s layup gave USF a 30-point cushion (104-74).   
 

On the glass, forward Lewis Holey (JR/Sydney, Australia) finished with a game-best eight rebounds. 
 

For the Wolves, Nemanja Knezevic paced three players in double-figure scoring with 20 points, including making all seven of his free throws. Cardinal Stritch won the battle on the glass with 34 rebounds to USF's 30 for the night. CSU, which drops to 6-7 overall and 2-4 in CCAC play, concluded the connecting on 45.3 percent (29-64) from the field and went nine-of-21 from beyond the three-point line for 42.9 percent. The Wolves went to the charity stripe 21 times and made good on 17 of its opportunities (81%).
 

The Saints' bench racked up 51 points to CSU's 37 points output and posted a 14-9 advantage in points off turnovers. USF committed 10 turnovers in the game while the Wolves tallied 11 miscues.
 

Up Next

USF continues CCAC play on the road this Saturday (Dec. 21) afternoon going up against the Robert Morris (Ill.) Eagles in Arlington Heights, Ill. Opening tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. (CT) at the RMU Athletic and Convocation Center.