JOLIET, Ill. -- Five University of St. Francis men's basketball players scored in double figures, including Joffrey Nunnally, who authored his third 20-plus point game this season, to produce a 78-65 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Holy Cross College (Ind.) on Saturday afternoon.  With the win, St. Francis improves to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play.

After leading by a nine-point margin after the first half (40-31), USF used a 57.1 percent shooting effort (12-of-21) in the second half, including going 5-for-5 on its final five field goal possessions to go along with a perfect 6-for-6 showing at the free throw line, to outscore the visitors 38-34 after the break and pull away for the 13-point win.

The first 12 minutes of the second half saw each team trade baskets until a 10-4 HCC scoring burst resulted in an 10-point USF advantage (57-47) shrink to a four-point margin (61-57) with four minutes left to play.  It was then when the Saints' offense took off, connecting on its final five possessions, beginning with a Coleton Hansen three-pointer and capped with a breakaway layup from Nunnally, as part of a 17-8 scoring run to finish the game and solidify the 78-65 final score.

Nunnally was joined by Damarcies Moore, Merrick Small, Dakoda Joachim and Brady Cooper in double figures.  Moore authored a 5-for-10 shooting performance resulting in 13 points, while Small (4-for-10), Joachim (4-for-7) and Cooper (4-for-5) managed to put up 10 points apiece.

Along with Small's eight rebounds, Moore chipped in six more leading to the Saints' 31-26 rebounding advantage.

St. Francis converted at a 56.3 percent clip (18-of-27) from the field in the first half, finishing the night at 56.6 percent (30-of-53).  Holy Cross struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on only two attempts in 13 tries for a 15.4 percent success rate.

Joey Garwood had a big night for Holy Cross finishing with a team-high 22 points.  He was one of two HCC players to hit for double figures.

Up Next
The Saints are on the road again next Saturday, Dec. 13 when they face Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill. for a 3 pm tip-off.

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on @USFSaints.