FAIRFIELD, Conn. - With just eight scholarship players available, the St. Francis Brooklyn men's basketball team had to work with an incredibly short bench Thursday night as the Terriers closed out the season series against Sacred Heart.
The Terriers ran up a 22-point advantage in the second half and were able to maintain that lead to the final horn, despite a scoring drought in the final eight minutes. The visitors rode career nights from Roy Clarke and Tedrick Wilcox Jr.
HOW IT HAPPENED
With a shooter-heavy lineup, the Terriers let it fly early and often to start the game as the Terriers were perfect from three-point range in the opening minutes. Di'Andre Howell-South racked up 11 points on his own in the first seven and a half minutes, shooting 3-3 from distance.
On the next trip down the floor, Tedrick Wilcox Jr. joined the 1,000-point club when he drove the lane for his third basket of the day. He becomes the 35th Terrier to hit the career milestone.
The Terriers led 26-10 after eight minutes.
St. Francis leaned heavily on the three-pointer in the first half, shooting 8-12 from behind the line while the Pioneers were just 1-3.
After a 6-0 run in the final three minutes to go up by 19, the Terriers' largest lead of the half, Sacred Heart answered back with two baskets in just 30 seconds. That number was matched when the Terriers took possession with 5.6 seconds remaining in the first half. Roy Clarke drove the length of the floor and kicked to Wilcox in the corner for a clean look from three that beat the buzzer.
The visitors led 47-29 at the half, led by Howell-South with 11 points.
He scored the last points of the first half and made sure to have the first points of the second half. Wilcox made it back-to-back threes to open the final frame.
St. Francis restored its 20-point advantage in the following minutes as Howell-South drove and slipped it to Roy Clarke who scored one under the basket. Wilcox immediately got the steal off the Sacred Heart inbound pass and promptly put it back up, drawing the foul, to go up 54-33.
The Pioneers took advantage of a frenetic pace over the next time minutes, logging a 19-8 run off of nine Terrier turnovers and three steals. Sacred Heart still did not manage a three-point shot in that span. As the tension mounted in the final five minutes, the Terriers lost its leading scorer, Wilcox, after being called for his fifth foul of the night. He finished with 15 points and three assists. Moreno had a short night as well, fouling out for the first time this season.
Clarke went 8-10 at the line in the final five minutes, scoring the Terriers' only points since Josiah Harris drove to the rim for two with 7:45 to play. That basket ensured Harris's fourth double-double in as many games.
Sacred Heart found their shot from distance in the final 40 seconds, knocking the Terrier lead down to seven points on two different occasions. The Terriers denied the final two chances for the Pioneers and secured a 70-63 win on Thursday night.
The win marks two straight at the Pitt Center for the Terriers and three of their last five on the road against the Pioneers.
TEAM LEADERS
Roy Clarke set a new career-high with 20 points on Thursday night, hitting a career-high 9-12 from the free throw line. He led all players with five assists and four steals.
Tedrick Wilcox Jr. was one of the Terriers with three three-pointers in the game, scoring 15 points before fouling out.
Riding an early surge, Di'Andre Howell-South scored 13 points and added seven rebounds.
Josiah Harris recorded his fourth consecutive double-double, scoring 10 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.
Trey Quartlebaum was a perfect 3-3 from distance in his second consecutive start for nine points.
NEXT UP: The Terriers close out the regular season on Saturday afternoon at Fairleigh Dickinson. Tip-off from the Rothman Center is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
