JOLIET, Ill. --- Roosevelt University led just three times on the night and by no more than two points, but one of those times came in the final 24 seconds of Tuesday night's Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest to hand the University of St. Francis men's basketball team an 80-78 setback at the Sullivan Center.

Leading 78-71 following a pair of Darius Wright free throws with 73 seconds remaining, the Saints (1-1, 1-1 CCAC) turned the ball over twice in the closing 29 seconds and missed a pair of layups in the last five seconds that would have forced overtime, but instead enabled Roosevelt University (5-3, 4-1) to win for the fourth time in a row.  It was also RU's fourth win by single digits this season.

The Lakers used a traditional three-point play with one minute left and a three-pointer with 31 seconds remaining to pull within 78-77.  They then turned the first of the two USF turnovers with 29 seconds to play into a go-ahead layup five seconds later.  That would be the first time the guests led since the 9:16 mark of the opening half.

Roosevelt added one more point after the second St. Francis miscue with ten seconds to play, but the Lakers missed on the back end of the two-shot foul with eight seconds remaining leaving the door open for head coach Ryan Marks' club to force the game's fifth tie or win outright.

But after scoring 40 of their 78 points on the night in the paint, the Saints could not come through one last time with the two missed layups leaving USF two points short in the end.

The Saints led by as many as eight points in each half, including four times by that margin after the break.  Besides the final score, Roosevelt's only leads were 17-15 at the 11:55 mark of the opening half and 21-20 a short time later.  The majority of the second half saw the Saints maintain no less than a two-possession advantage.

Roosevelt's 9-4 gain on three-pointers was a key for the Lakers after each team matched the other with 25 field goals apiece.  RU converted nine of its 18 treys, including 5-of-7 in the opening half, while the Saints were just 4-of-15.

USF countered with a 24-21 edge on free throws, including making 10 of its 11 attempts in the second half to finish at 80 percent overall (24-of-30).  Roosevelt was 21-of-30.
Aitor Anabitarte just missed out on a double-double for the Saints, finishing with team highs of 14 points and nine rebounds.  Lewis McGlasson came off the bench to deliver 13 points, while Carter Fayhee provided all ten of his points after the break.

Roosevelt countered with five players in double figures in the scoring column, including two off the bench.  Julio Montes II led the way with 16 points and four three-pointers.

Notes: Jalen Reneau saw his first action in a countable game as a Saint.  He provided nine points and four assists.  The latter figure tied Wright for game-high honors … McGlasson provided three of USF's four three-pointers in four attempts … Anabitarte was a perfect 8-for-8 at the foul line and is now 14-of-16 for the season … How close was the game?  The two teams had the same number of field goals, bench points (31), free throw attempts, blocks (four) and steals (eight) … Up until the final 30 seconds, USF had only turned the ball over three times in the second half following a ten-turnover first 20 minutes … The Saints are back in action this weekend when they host their annual Thanksgiving Classic starting with a 6 pm contest versus Lourdes University on Saturday.
 
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