Preview: Saint Francis (PA) at Central Connecticut

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — A struggling Saint Francis (PA) squad aims to play spoiler against a Central Connecticut team fighting for postseason positioning when the Northeast Conference rivals meet Saturday at William H. Detrick Gymnasium.

The Red Flash (7-23) enter on a five-game losing streak, including a 103-77 road loss at Stonehill on Thursday. Saint Francis has lost 10 of its last 11 games, with the lone victory a 73-67 win at New Haven on Feb. 24.

Central Connecticut (17-11) has found consistency, winning six of its last eight contests. The Blue Devils edged Mercyhurst 80-78 at home on Thursday, bolstering their conference standing.

The matchup features two of the league’s top scorers. Saint Francis guard Skylar Wicks has been a bright spot during the difficult season, averaging 22.4 points over his last five games. He scored 22 points in 26 minutes against Stonehill. For Central Connecticut, guard Darin Smith has been a dynamic force, dropping 40 points in a win at New Haven on Feb. 12 and averaging 23.1 points over his last seven outings. He led the Blue Devils with 24 points in Thursday’s narrow victory.

When the teams met on Jan. 17 in Loretto, Pa., Central Connecticut emerged with a 98-90 win. Containing Smith and finding secondary scoring behind Wicks will be critical for the Red Flash to reverse that result.

The Blue Devils have been strong at home, winning three straight at Detrick Gym. Saint Francis has just one road win since Jan. 5.

Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST on Saturday, Feb. 28. Central Connecticut will look to solidify its conference tournament seeding, while Saint Francis seeks to build momentum heading into the offseason.