JOLIET, Ill. --- Aitor Anabitarte scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half, including a go-ahead three-point play with 2.2 seconds left, to lift the University of St. Francis men's basketball team to a 68-65 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Olivet Nazarene University on Wednesday night at the Sullivan Center.

The contest was the third straight tight finish for the Saints, who dropped two- and five-point games last week, including a two-point decision to NAIA No. 2-ranked Thomas More University (Ky.) on Thursday.  Overall, USF is now 3-5 in games decided by seven points of less.

With the exception of the contest's first basket, USF (6-6, 5-3 CCAC) led the entire first half, going up by as much as 13 points (33-20) with 2:46 remaining before intermission.  Six different St. Francis players contributed to the 15-4 run over the 7:19 time span topped by EJ Charles' four points.

Olivet Nazarene (11-5, 6-2) countered with the closing nine points of the half and the first three after the break to get within 33-32, but the Saints were able to stem the tide and maintain the advantage until the 9:50 mark of the second half.  That is when ONU would gain its first lead since 3-0 at the start, going up 49-47. 

The Tigers would maintain that edge for its own extended period of time before Charles' free throw with 2:39 remaining knotted the contest at 63-all.  The Saints then regained the lead 65-63 on Carter Fayhee's steal and basket.  ONU produced one more tie at 65-65 before Anabitarte's second-chance layup and free throw off a St. Francis miss gave the Saints the victory.

Watch Anabitarte's Winning Basket: https://twitter.com/i/status/1610828691658915840

USF outscored the guests 15-8 on second-chance points highlighted by 13 offensive rebounds among its 33 total.  The Saints also claimed a 34-24 advantage on points in the paint.

Fayhee led the hosts with 16 points, while sharing top honors in both rebounds (six) and assists (four).  Like Anabitarte, who also had six caroms, Fayhee came up big in the second half, where he totaled ten points. 

Darius Wright added another 12 points, all on three-pointers, while Nadav Gerner contributed four assists and three steals.

Tyler Schmidt, the nation's sixth-leading scorer, topped ONU's chart with 21 points.  Landon Pflederer provided another 17 points. 

Notes: Wright's four three-pointers on Wednesday were the most by a St Francis player this season … After turning the ball over a season-low nine times in their last game, the Saints committed just ten turnovers against the Tigers … The win snapped a four-game losing streak against ONU … The Saints are on the road Saturday to face Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee.  Tipoff is 3 pm for the CCAC contest.

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