Under the Radar Game of the Day: St. Francis (PA) at Central Connecticut

St. Francis (PA) at Central Connecticut, 7:30 PM Eastern, necfrontrow.com

With the start of conference play this week, we are also seeing the start of very meaningful games in one of our favorite conferences here at HoopsHD, the Northeast Conference.  Today is Day One of NEC play as the ten members of the conference fight to qualify for the 8 team conference tournament and secure home court advantage once there.  Our Game of the Day heads to New Britain, Connecticut as the Central Connecticut Blue Devils play host to preseason favorite St. Francis (PA).  The Blue Devils enter play this afternoon at 7-6, which is notable in itself as the program had not won more than 6 games in a single season since 2013-14.  They are led by senior Mustafa Jones, who has scored 24 last time out in a win over Mass-Lowell.  Also keep an eye on Tyler Kohl who had a double-double in last week’s win over Maine.

The Red Flash of St. Francis University enter play today at only 6-5, though they have won three straight since getting blown out at Duke by 57 points on December 5.  Keith Braxton has been a double-double machine, with six of them so far this season.  Last game out, in a 84-70 win over Lehigh, he had an incredible game with 20 points, 16 rebounds and 8 assists.  Efforts like that today and throughout the conference season could put the Red Flash in line for their first regular season title and NCAA Tournament bid since 1991.