LORETTO, Pa. (Interstat) — Kheni Briggs scored 29 points and New Haven used a blistering offensive performance to pull away from Saint Francis (PA) for an 81-69 victory in a Northeast Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at DeGol Arena.

The Chargers (10-12, 4-5 NEC) shot 52.1% from the field and 50% from three-point range, posting an offensive rating of 125.0 on 65 possessions to snap a two-game skid. The Red Flash (6-15, 4-5) could not match that efficiency, shooting 44.6% overall and 33.3% from deep in front of a crowd of 709.

The most important stretch of the game came late in the first half, turning a tight contest into a lead New Haven would never relinquish. With Saint Francis (PA) holding a 31-28 advantage after an Ahmad Harrison layup with 2:58 remaining, the Chargers unleashed a 13-3 run to close the period. Briggs, who had been quiet for several minutes, ignited the surge with a driving layup. After a Red Flash miss, he then drew a foul on a three-point attempt and calmly sank all three free throws. On the next possession, Andre Pasha found Briggs for another three-pointer, and the junior guard capped his personal 11-point outburst in the final 2:39 with two more free throws. Jabri Fitzpatrick added a pair from the line to send New Haven into halftime leading 41-37.

That momentum carried into the second half as the Chargers methodically extended their advantage. While Saint Francis (PA) kept within striking distance for several minutes, cutting the deficit to 48-46 on a Chris Moncrief jumper, New Haven responded with a 7-0 spurt. Briggs and Fitzpatrick scored on consecutive layups, and after a Red Flash turnover, Fitzpatrick finished again to push the lead to nine.

The Red Flash never got closer than seven points the rest of the way. New Haven’s lead ballooned to as many as 16 points in the final minutes before a flurry of late Saint Francis (PA) baskets set the final margin.

Briggs, a junior from Kannapolis, North Carolina, was the catalyst, hitting 9 of 15 shots, including 4 of 7 from beyond the arc, and adding seven rebounds. His 29-point effort marked a significant rebound after scoring a combined 14 points in his previous two games. Fitzpatrick added 19 points, while Pasha contributed 14 points, three assists and a block. Najimi George chipped in 10 points and four assists for the Chargers.

Saint Francis (PA) was led by Zion Russell’s 15 points and four assists. Harrison finished with 16 points, and Skylar Wicks added 12. Gestin Liberis provided nine points and a game-high five assists for the Red Flash.

Despite being outscored 34-30 in the paint and committing more turnovers (9-10), New Haven’s superior shooting and a 21-of-27 performance from the free-throw line proved decisive. The Chargers also capitalized on Saint Francis (PA)’s mistakes, scoring 12 points off turnovers.

The loss spoiled a solid start for the Red Flash, who led for much of the first half’s opening 17 minutes. The game featured eight ties and six lead changes before New Haven’s decisive run.

Both teams return to conference play on Thursday. New Haven travels to face Long Island, while Saint Francis (PA) visits Mercyhurst.