WEST HAVEN, Conn. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant opening act and a desperate, frantic finish, Saint Francis (PA) snapped a four-game losing streak and avenged an earlier loss by holding off a second-half charge from New Haven for a 73-67 victory in a Northeast Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Charger Gymnasium.

The Red Flash, who entered the contest with just six wins, built a commanding nine-point halftime lead and then withstood a relentless comeback attempt by the Chargers in the final minutes to secure the road win.

Saint Francis (7-22, 4-11 NEC) set the tone early with efficient offense and disruptive defense, sprinting to a 41-32 advantage at the break. The Red Flash shot 51.7% from the field in the first half, led by the interior presence of Gestin Liberis. The 6-foot-9 sophomore from Havertown, Pennsylvania, was a force, scoring 19 points, grabbing 7 rebounds and blocking a shot in just 27 minutes of action. His early work, including a dunk and a hook shot during a key first-half stretch, helped Saint Francis establish control.

New Haven (13-16, 8-7), which had defeated the Red Flash by 12 points just over three weeks prior, struggled to find consistent offense outside of guard Jabri Fitzpatrick. The junior from North Brunswick, New Jersey, shouldered the load for the Chargers, scoring a game-high 22 points in 39 minutes. But Saint Francis’ defense, particularly on the perimeter, forced New Haven into difficult shots for much of the night.

The second half became a story of resilience for the visitors. Every time New Haven threatened to close the gap, Saint Francis had an answer. After the Chargers cut the deficit to 42-39 early in the period, Liberis responded with a critical three-pointer. When Kyle Kearson’s three-pointer brought New Haven within 54-51 with just over seven minutes to play, Zion Russell answered with a driving dunk on the ensuing possession.

Russell, a guard from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was instrumental in the victory, finishing with 14 points, 3 assists, and several key plays down the stretch. His backcourt mate, Chris Moncrief of Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, added 13 points and played a steadying role throughout.

The most crucial sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute. Leading 65-63 with 50 seconds remaining, Saint Francis put the game on the line at the free-throw line. Liberis calmly sank two free throws to extend the lead to four. After New Haven’s Teshaun Steele split a pair of free throws to make it 67-64, the Red Flash executed a decisive play out of a timeout. Moncrief found Liberis cutting to the basket for a thunderous dunk with 20 seconds left, pushing the lead back to five and effectively sealing the outcome.

New Haven’s final attempts were off the mark, and Russell closed the scoring with two free throws to provide the final margin. The Chargers were led by Fitzpatrick’s 22 points, while Andre Pasha of Syracuse, New York, contributed 5 points and 5 assists. Najimi George of Bridgeport, Connecticut, added 9 points for the home team.

The victory marks a significant turnaround for Saint Francis, which had lost several close games recently, including a two-point defeat to Long Island and an overtime loss to Mercyhurst earlier in February. The Red Flash showcased improved poise in handling New Haven’s pressure, committing only 12 turnovers while forcing 14.

For New Haven, the loss is a setback in its pursuit of a higher seed in the upcoming NEC tournament. The Chargers, who were projected as heavy favorites by advanced metrics entering the game, could not overcome their cold start or contain Liberis in the paint.

Saint Francis will look to build on the win when it travels to face Stonehill on Thursday. New Haven aims to rebound on the same night with a road game at Wagner.