Lafayette holds off St. Francis (Pa.) 72-68

EASTON, Pa. (AP) — Ryan Willen scored 26 points as Lafayette held off St. Francis (Pa.) 72-68 on Wednesday night for the Leopards’ first win of the season.

Willen scored 15 points in the first half as Lafayette (1-2) jumped out to a 31-13 lead with 5:56 to go until the break.

The Leopards led 39-29 at halftime, then the Red Flash (1-2) closed to 45-41 on a jumper by Umar Shannon with 14:12 to go.

Lafayette used a 12-0 run to build another lead, but St. Francis worked its way back to a four-point deficit with 1:15 to go at 68-64. After the Leopards made 3 of 4 free throws, Shannon hit a 3 with 10 seconds left, but the Red Flash could get no closer.

Jared Mintz added 14 points for Lafayette, which shot 53.6 percent from the field in the first half (15 of 28), but only 36.8 percent in the second (7 of 19).

Shannon led St. Francis with 24 points and Anthony Ervin added 16.