LORETTO, Pa. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit over grace, the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash erased a 12-point second-half deficit to edge the Stonehill Skyhawks 63-61 in a Northeast Conference men’s basketball clash Monday afternoon at DeGol Arena.

The contest, witnessed by 674 fans, was a stark tale of two halves. Stonehill, the visiting team, controlled the opening period with disciplined defense, limiting Saint Francis to just 20 points and forcing a flurry of missed shots. The Skyhawks took a 25-20 lead into halftime behind the interior presence of Ridvan Tutic, who grabbed nine rebounds, and the scoring of Hermann Koffi, who had 10 of his 18 points before the break.

The second half, however, saw a dramatic reversal. The Red Flash, sparked by increased defensive pressure, unleashed a 23-8 run over the first nine minutes to seize control. Stonehill’s offense, which had managed just fine in the first half, crumbled under a wave of turnovers. The Skyhawks committed 20 giveaways in the game, leading to 12 Saint Francis steals. Skylar Wicks was a catalyst for the Red Flash, finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and a game-high four steals.

Saint Francis built its lead to as many as nine points, but Stonehill refused to fade. Chas Stinson, who led all scorers with 19 points, willed the Skyhawks back into contention. His driving layup with 1:57 remaining cut the deficit to 52-51, setting up a frantic finish.

The most crucial sequence unfolded in the final minute. With Saint Francis clinging to a 58-55 lead after a Gestin Liberis free throw, Stonehill’s Hermann Koffi missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer with 42 seconds left. The Red Flash secured the rebound, and after being fouled, Chris Moncrief split a pair of free throws to make it 59-55 with 38 seconds remaining.

Stonehill answered quickly, as Koffi redeemed himself with a deep 3-pointer from the top of the key, pulling the Skyhawks within a single point at 59-58 with just 18 seconds on the clock. Saint Francis inbounded the ball to Ahmad Harrison, who was immediately fouled. The sophomore guard from Baltimore, who finished with 16 points, calmly sank both free throws to push the lead back to three points with 16 seconds left.

On the ensuing possession, Stonehill’s final attempt to force overtime was a well-defended 3-point attempt by Koffi that missed. Liberis secured the defensive rebound for Saint Francis and was fouled. He made the first free throw to extend the lead to 62-58 but missed the second. However, in the scramble for the offensive board, the Red Flash retained possession, and Harrison was fouled again. He made one of two from the line with four seconds left for the final margin, as Stonehill’s desperation heave at the buzzer was off target.

The victory improved Saint Francis to 5-14 overall, while Stonehill fell to 5-13. Both teams now hold identical 2-3 records in NEC play.

Statistically, the game was a paradox. Saint Francis won despite shooting just 35.1% from the field (20 of 57), compared to Stonehill’s 43.2% (19 of 44). The Red Flash’s advantage came from creating extra opportunities, outscoring Stonehill 17-9 off turnovers and holding a 12-4 edge in steals. They also attempted 28 free throws to Stonehill’s 21, making 17.

For Saint Francis, Chris Moncrief complemented Harrison’s scoring with 15 points. Stonehill’s Koffi finished with 18 points, but the Skyhawks managed only four team assists against their 20 turnovers, a decisive ratio in a tight game.

Saint Francis will look to build on the comeback win when it hosts Chicago State on Friday. Stonehill aims to regroup at home against Long Island on the same night.