GARY, Ind. --- Already playing without second-leading scorer Carter Fayhee due to a season-ending injury last week, the University of St. Francis men's basketball team lost top scorer Aitor Anabitarte 13 minutes into Saturday's Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup against Indiana University Northwest, but still nearly pulled out the victory before falling 64-60.

Anabitarte landed hard on his back following a dunk to put the Saints up 23-17 with 6:51 remaining in the opening half and did not return after leaving the contest.  Nonetheless, neither team was able to build more than an eight-point advantage against the opposition with USF having its biggest lead at 36-28 with just over two minutes to play. 

St. Francis (16-10, 14-6 CCAC) took a 37-32 lead into the break, but Indiana Northwest wiped that out in the initial 2:11 of the second half by scoring the first nine points to gain a 41-37 edge.  USF countered with its own 11-3 burst and  the RedHawks answered right back with 12 of the next 14 points to turn a 48-44 deficit into a 56-50 lead.

In all, there were four ties and six lead changes in the contest.

Indiana Northwest (13-15, 12-8) would take its biggest lead at 62-54 with 3:28 remaining, but the depleted Saints would not go away pulling to within 62-60 with 64 seconds remaining.  USF had a chance to force a tie or take the lead after the hosts missed on a three-pointer and turned the ball over following an offensive rebound, but the Saints turned it over themselves with 13 seconds to play. 

IUNW then sealed the victory with two free throws with ten seconds remaining to account for the final scoring.

Darius Wright stepped up big in the absence of Fayhee and Anabitarte.  He finished with a game-high 19 points, while EJ Charles added 13 points and a career-high four blocks.

Malik Miller led Indiana Northwest with 13 points, while Isaac Stanback delivered 12 points and eight rebounds.

Both teams struggled with their offensive games with the Saints holding a slight advantage from the field (41-39 percent).  Both teams were under 30 percent from three-point range and under 67 percent at the foul line.

The loss snapped USF's season-best four-game winning streak.

Notes: Nadav Gerner's six rebounds on Saturday were a career-best effort … The Saints also picked up season-highs from Ibrahim Mobayed (four rebounds) and Reihana Maxwell-Topia (eight points) … USF produced a season-high nine blocks thanks to Charles' four … Not only are Anabitarte and Fayhee St. Francis' leading scorers, but they are also its leading rebounders.  Their absence resulted in a 44-33 deficit on the boards Saturday … After shooting exactly 74 percent at the free throw line through their first 23 games, the Saints have shot less than 68 percent in their last three contests … USF opens CCAC Tournament play on Tuesday heading to South Bend to face Indiana University South Bend.

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