JOLIET, Ill. --- The University of St. Francis men's basketball team continued its tough luck in tight contests on Friday afternoon when it dropped a 77-72 decision to Madonna University (Mich.) in the final round of the USF New Year's Classic. Of the Fighting Saints' six losses this season, five have now been decided by seven points or less, including two in the last 26 hours.
For the second day in a row, head coach Ryan Marks' club had to battle back from a double-figure deficit in the opening half. The Saints trailed by their biggest margin of the game at 29-16 with six minutes remaining in the first half after Madonna (13-3) went on an unanswered eight-point run.
USF (5-6) responded with 14 of the next 17 points to pull within 32-30 with 2:30 to play before the break. Darius Wright accounted for six of the final nine points with three layups. The Saints, however, would not score the rest of the half enabling Madonna to take a 39-32 lead into the break.
In the second half, St. Francis would get as close as one point twice sandwiched around Madonna pushing its second-half lead as high as nine points. The Saints finally broke through at the 4:12 mark with the second of two free throws by Aitor Anabitarte to put the hosts up 64-63. That would be the start of six lead changes over the next three minutes.
The fifth and final tie at 72-all would come with 71 seconds to play on a Nadav Gerner layup off a pass from Anabitarte. Madonna would counter with the final five points of the game in the closing 50 seconds. The Crusaders first got a layup on their ensuing possession followed by a free throw after a steal and then two final free throws after USF's last chance to tie with a three-pointer came up empty in the closing seconds.
Wright led all scorers with a career-high 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field, including three treys. Carter Fayhee added 15 points, including seven down the stretch when the two teams were exchanging leads. The last of his three field goals during that timespan was a three-pointer to give the Saints their biggest lead of the second half at 70-67 with 2:15 to play. Madonna, however, answered right back with a trey of its own to knot the score at 70-all.
Also scoring in double figures for USF was Anabitarte with 13 points.
Henry Speight and Mark Mettie matched each other with 24 points for Madonna, which shot 53.1 percent for the game (26-of-49). The Crusaders also connected on 18 of their 20 free throws.
Both teams hit an identical 26 field goals, but St. Francis gained the upper hand on three-pointers, 11-7. Madonna, meanwhile, doubled up on the Saints at the foul line, 18-9, and gained a 35-24 advantage on the boards.
Other Notes: Seven of USF's 11 contests this season have been decided by single digits with the Saints coming out on top twice … Wright's 25 points were the most by any St. Francis player this season, while his ten field goals tied a team season high … Wright, Anabitarte and Jake Karli each nailed three treys on the afternoon as part of the team's 11 overall, which was one three-pointer shy of the top team mark this year … USF's nine turnovers were its lowest total of the campaign … Madonna's .900 shooting percentage from the free-throw line was the highest clip by a St. Francis opponent this winter … The Saints return to Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference competition on Wednesday when they host defending league champion Olivet Nazarene University at 7 pm.
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