NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit over grace, the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash secured a hard-fought 71-69 victory over the Wagner Seahawks on Thursday night at Spiro Sports Center, snapping a two-game skid and handing Wagner its third consecutive loss.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the final frantic minute. Trailing by two, Wagner’s Binael Basil converted a layup with 36 seconds remaining to tie the game at 69, sending a ripple of tension through the crowd of 689. Saint Francis (PA) called a timeout to set up a final play.

Out of the break, the Red Flash went to their leading scorer, Chris Moncrief. The 6-foot-6 junior from Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, drove aggressively to the rim but saw his layup attempt bounce off the iron. Wagner’s Eddie Placer secured the defensive rebound, giving the Seahawks a chance to hold for the final shot with the game knotted and about 30 seconds left.

Wagner, after using a timeout, ran its offense looking for the last shot. The ball found its way to Nick Jones, who drove into the paint for a potential go-ahead layup. His attempt, however, rolled off the rim and into the hands of Saint Francis’ Ralph Martino with just over a second left. Martino was fouled immediately.

The sophomore from Lantham, Maryland, who had been a steadying force all night, stepped to the line with the game in the balance. He calmly sank both free throws, putting the Red Flash ahead 71-69 with 1.3 seconds on the clock.

Wagner’s final desperation inbounds pass led to a rushed, off-balance layup attempt by Jones that missed as time expired, sealing the narrow road win for Saint Francis (PA).

The contest was a defensive struggle marked by inefficiency. Saint Francis (PA) (4-12) shot 45.3% from the field but only 30.4% from three-point range. Wagner (6-8) was worse, connecting on 44.1% of its shots and a paltry 23.8% from beyond the arc. The Seahawks’ 13 offensive rebounds gave them extra chances, but they were undermined by 13 turnovers and a 63.2% performance from the free-throw line. The Red Flash, conversely, made 16 of their 19 free throws, a decisive 84.2%.

Moncrief led all scorers with 15 points, adding a steal and a block in 29 minutes. Ahmad Harrison provided a crucial spark with 16 points, including two three-pointers, while Martino filled the stat sheet with 10 points, four assists and three steals. Their combined efforts offset a balanced Wagner attack that saw four players score in double figures, led by John Awoke’s 12 points. Basil and Bryan Akanmu each added 10 for the Seahawks.

The game’s tempo was set early, with both teams trading baskets and leads throughout a first half that ended with Saint Francis (PA) holding a slim 39-37 advantage. The second half followed a similar pattern, featuring eight ties and 11 lead changes, with neither team able to build a cushion larger than six points.

Saint Francis (PA) won despite being outscored 40-34 in the paint and surrendering those 13 offensive boards. They countered by forcing those 13 Wagner turnovers, converting them into 14 points, and by generating 19 fast-break points to Wagner’s 11. The Red Flash also executed more efficiently, posting an offensive rating of 105.9 points per 100 possessions compared to Wagner’s 101.4.

The victory improved Saint Francis (PA) to 1-1 in Northeast Conference play, while Wagner fell to 0-2. The Red Flash will look to build momentum when they travel to face Long Island on Saturday. Wagner will aim to stop its losing streak at home against Mercyhurst, also on Saturday.