WASHINGTON, D.C. – William & Mary men's basketball closed out the nonconference schedule with a 78-72 setback to reigning Northeast Conference regular-season champion St. Francis (Pa.) in the DC Holiday Hoops Fest Showcase on Sunday afternoon at the Entertainment & Sports Arena.
 
Seniors Andy Van Vliet and Nathan Knight each posted double-doubles to lead four W&M (8-5) players in double figures. Van Vliet led the Green and Gold with 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots for his fourth-straight double-double. Knight added 15 points and 10 rebounds for his 10th double-double. Graduate student Bryce Barnes and junior Luke Loewe finished with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
 
The Tribe shot 50% from the floor (27-of-54) but turned the ball over 19 times which resulted in 16 St. Francis' (7-4) points. The Green and Gold also struggled at the free-throw line, hitting just 9-of-18, while the Red Flash connected at a 71.4% clip (15-of-21) and outscored W&M by six at the charity stripe (15-9).
 
W&M raced out of the gates hitting five of its first six shots and opened up a 17-8 lead nearly six minutes into the game on a Van Vliet 3-pointer. The Red Flash used a 9-0 run to take its first lead and hit six of its final eight shots in the opening 20 minutes to take a 40-36 lead into the locker room.
 
The Tribe scored eight of the second half's first 10 points to retake the lead, 44-42, following five-straight Knight points, including a baseline 3-pointer. St. Francis answered with an 8-0 run to take control.
 
Barnes converted back-to-back steals into fast-break buckets, including a dunk, as part of an 8-2 run to briefly put the Tribe on top, 59-58, midway through the second half. Scott Meredith immediately answered with a 3-pointer, and the Red Flash scored six-straight points to push its lead to seven, 69-62, with under four minutes remaining.
 
How It Happened
- The Tribe hit five of its first six shots from the floor in taking the early lead. Graduate student Bryce Barnes scored five-straight points to start a 10-2 run. Loewe added a driving lay-up and then found Van Vliet for a triple to push the lead to 17-8 with 14:14 remaining in the first half.
- St. Francis (Pa.) used a 9-0 run to take its first lead of the game. Tyler Stewart scored four-straight points, before a steal led to a Keith Braxton 3-pointer, giving the Red Flash a 24-23 lead with 6:03 left.
- Freshman Miguel Ayesa answered with a 3-pointer from the left side, and a Van Vliet bucket in the paint gave the Green and Gold a 28-24 lead less than a minute later.
- St Francis (Pa.) hit six of its final eight shots from the floor. The Red Flash scored the half's final four points on a Randall Gaskin jumper and a Myles Thompson tip-in with 22 seconds left to take a 40-36 lead into the locker room.
- W&M started the second half on an 8-2 run. Five-straight Nathan Knight points, including a corner 3-pointer, put the Tribe on top 44-42 less than two minutes into the period.  
- The Red Flash moved back in front thanks to an 8-0 run. Braxton, who scored 15 points and added seven rebounds, led the charge with four points before a Deivydas Kuzavas lay-up at the 16:08 mark gave SFU the 50-44 lead.
- The Tribe used an 8-2 run sparked by Barnes to retake the lead. Barnes picked up back-to-back steals and fast-break buckets, including a dunk, to give W&M a 59-58 lead with 9:41 left.
- Scott Meredith answered on the other end for SFU with a 3-pointer on the next possession and the Red Flash never trailed again.
- St. Francis (Pa.) scored six-straight points to extend the lead to its largest at seven, 69-62, just under four minutes remaining. Stewart scored the final four points of the run.
- Barnes knocked down a 3-pointer and added a free throw to draw the Tribe within 74-70 with just under a minute remaining.
- The Tribe had a chance to draw closer, but Knight's free-throw line jumper was off the mark, and the Red Flash hit 4-of-6 at the free-throw line over the final 21 seconds to put the game away.
 
Inside the Numbers
- The Tribe shot 50% from the field (27-of-54) for the fifth time this season, and W&M shot 40.9% from 3-point range (9-of-22).
- St. Francis (Pa.) finished the game at 47.5% (28-of-59) from the field, including 51.7% (15-of-29) in the second half.
- W&M connected on just 9-of-18 (50%) from the free-throw line compared to 71.5% (15-of-21) for the Red Flash.
- The Tribe turned the ball over 19 times which resulted in 16 St. Francis (Pa.) points. The Red Flash had 11 steals.
- W&M held a 37-30 advantage on the glass, including 11-8 on the offensive boards.
 
Notes
Senior Nathan Knight posted his nation-leading 10th double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds … Senior Andy Van Vliet recorded his fourth-straight double-double and seventh overall on the year, leading W&M with 16 points and 11 rebounds … Van Vliet also blocked a career-high four shots … Freshman Rainers Hermanovskis scored a career-high five points … Graduate student Bryce Barnes scored in double figures for the second-straight game and fifth time this season with 15 points … Junior Luke Loewe scored in double figures for the seventh game this season with 12 points.
 
Up Next
- The Tribe opens Colonial Athletic Association play on the road at Elon on Monday, Dec. 30.
- Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Networks.
- CBS Sports Network is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite on DIRECTV Channel 221 and DISH Network Channel 158.  For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com. The channel finder for zip codes is available at the top of the CBS Sports Network website.