By HUGH CONRAD
LORETTO — St. Francis shot almost 60 percent on Thursday night at the Stokes Center, which is usually enough to win a basketball game.
However, Lafayette Leopards shot 66 percent from the field in beating St. Francis 88-77.
That illustrated to Red Flash fans that defense may be a problem for them this season.
St. Francis (1-2) could not contain Lafayette’s 6-foot-8, 240-pound center, junior Jared Mintz, who was 9-for-9 from the field and 6 of 7 in free throws to score 24 points.
The Red Flash had difficulty in setting the pace for the game.
“Those guys coming in here (Thursday night), they willed their style on us,” St. Francis coach Don Friday said. “Going into it, we said that this was going to be a game about tempo.”
The Flash started off well, charging out to a 13-5 lead as Sorena Orandi, Cedric Latimer, and Devin Sweetney each hit a 3-pointer.
Lafayette (2-1) charged back, taking a 28-21 lead as the Leopards found Mintz and shot well from the perimeter.
Sweetney scored 30 points to lead the Flash, but had just seven in the first half as he found himself in foul trouble, playing just 13 minutes.
“The first half I couldn’t find much of a rhythm,” Sweetney said. “I just tried to play defense and talk to my defense, encouraging them.”
The Leopards led 42-33 at the half. Lafayette took possession with 3.1 seconds left in the half and a six-point lead. Michael Gruner took the ball from half court and shot a long jumper, which banked in for a 3-pointer.
St. Francis narrowed the lead to five points twice late in the game, but each time, the Leopards answered either from the perimeter or with Mintz hitting a layup.
In addition to Mintz’s 24, Gruner and Jim Mower each scored 17. Jeff Kari had 14.
Latimer was 9-for-11 from the field and 3-for-5 in free throws to score 23 points.
St. Francis will travel to Bucknell on Saturday.
