UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. - The University of St. Francis men's basketball team turned in a balanced scoring effort as six Saints recorded double-digit points but not enough to come away with a victory as Governors State posted a 98-91 win this Saturday (Dec. 14) afternoon in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play at GSU's Athletics and Recreation Center (The ARC).
 

The top scorer for USF, which is now 4-6 overall and 2-4 in the CCAC this season, was Lewis Holey (JR/Sydney, Australia). The Saints' forward netted 19 points to go with a game-high seven rebounds. Holey was joined in the double-figure scoring column by guard Eric Ting (JR/Taoyuan, Taiwan), who tallied 15 points and distributed a game-most seven assists. Guard Cole Micek (SR/Los Angeles, Calif.) pumped in 13 points, guard Carlos Tovias (JR/Corsicana, Texas) had 11 off the bench, and with 10 points each were forward Mitch Kwasigroch (SR/Manhattan, Ill.), and guard Jorden Thornton (SR/Hoffman Estates, Ill.).
 

Chris Pride led all players with 32 points to pace the scoring attack for Governors State, which improves to 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the CCAC. Justin Siorek poured in 21 points, Theo Owens added 13, and DeAndrey Robinson contributed 12 as four of the five Jaguar starters attained double-digit point totals.
 

St. Francis, which shot 49.2 percent (30-61) from the floor in the contest, held a four-point (26-22) advantage midway thru the first half. The two teams would tie the score for the 10th time with 7:16 to go in the half at 29-all before the Saints snapped the deadlock on a pair of Malik Bailey (SR/Tutwiler, Miss.) free throws and led the next four minutes. GSU managed to take a 39-37 lead at the 2:16 mark on a three-pointer and USF replied by pulling into another tie on an Ting layup with 1:42 remaining on the clock.  The first half would feature a 12th and final tie of 41 with 1:10 to go before halftime as Thornton drained a pair of free throws. A jumper by Tovias with a second left was good as the Saints headed into the lockerroom leading 43-41.
 

The second half featured a combined 105 points between the teams. The game would be tied up on three occasions in the first six minutes of the second half before a GSU basket put the hosts out in front. The teams exchanged points from there and a pair of Micek free throws with under 12 minutes remaining gave the Saints a 64-61 lead. The Jaguars clawed back to draw into a 64-all tie, which marked the 16th of the game, a minute later and surged ahead albeit for another elapsed minute. Three straight jumpers, including two by USF, proceeded as the Saints led 70-69 with 8:14 left on a Holey jumper. Unfortunately, USF would never lead again as a three-point goal by Justin Siorek put GSU back in front for good at 72-70. The Saints were able to get within a deuce (76-74) approaching the five-minute mark, but then fell back into a double-digit deficit at 12 points (89-77 with 1:44 showing on the scoreboard.  
 

The final minute of play was action-packed as USF trailed by nine points (93-84) with 49 seconds left and managed to draw within two points (93-91) on two Ting free throws with 16 seconds remaining. GSU converted a pair of free throws a second later and the Jaguars' Lamar Crenshaw made all three of his free throw attempts in the final five seconds to seal the victory. 
 

The Saints' bench outscored GSU 30-17 and held a 15-8 edge in second-chance points. The Jaguars converted 12 USF turnovers into 22 points while the Saints had six off nine GSU miscues. The Saints posted a 22-20 points advantage in paint area scoring.
 

Up Next

USF is back on its home floor this upcoming Wednesday (Dec. 18) night hosting the Cardinal Stritch Wolves at the Sullivan Center in Joliet, Ill. Game time is at 7 p.m. (CT) for the CCAC encounter. The Saints then travel to Chicago, Ill., for another conference game on Saturday, Dec. 21, for a 3 p.m. (CT) tilt versus the Robert Morris (Ill.) Eagles.