
St. Francis (PA) vs Long Island University Prediction 1/24/25 College Basketball Picks Today
Long Island University (10-11) vs. St. Francis (PA) (7-13)
January 24, 2025 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: St. Francis (PA) -1; Over/Under: 129.5
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The Long Island University Sharks and the St. Francis PA Red Flash meet Friday in college basketball action from DeGol Arena. Here’s a St. Francis (PA) vs Long Island University Prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best St. Francis (PA) vs Long Island University pick.
Long Island University Sharks Betting Preview
The Sharks opened the year on a middling run, then hit the skids during November and December. It looked like LIU’s season was effectively over, but to their credit, the Sharks have regained their composure lately. Long Island U beat Pratt, Air Force, and Charlotte during a 3-3 opening stretch, taking losses otherwise versus Ole Miss, Cal Baptist, and Columbia. A rough 1-8 stretch came next, with a lone win over York NY amid losses to Winthrop, Lafayette, Binghamton, Niagara, UMass Lowell, Missouri, Mount St. Mary’s, and Lehigh. Since then it’s been six straight wins for the Sharks, however. Those victories have come in succession over Le Moyne, Chicago State, Stonehill, Central Connecticut, St. Francis PA, and Mercyhurst, giving the Sharks a 10-11 overall record through 21 games so far this season.
In the Mercyhurst matchup on Monday, the Sharks entered the second half with a 34-28 edge. LIU gave away that lead in the next period, but eventually won 72-63 after a 13-4 run in overtime. Leading the team in scoring was Malachi Davis with 23 points, nine assists, and three steals. Jamal Fuller notched a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Jalen Lee had four points off the bench in 13 minutes of work.
St. Francis PA Red Flash Betting Preview
Over on the St. Francis PA side, they’ve had a rough time so far this season. The Red Flash have only been able to muster consecutive wins once during this 2024-25 campaign. St. Francis PA opened on a 4-6 stretch over their first 10 games, beating Campbell, Penn State-Schuylkill, Lehigh, and Penn State-Shenango. The losses otherwise came versus Dayton, Clemson, Penn State, Mount St. Mary’s, Georgetown, and Radford. A 1-5 run came next for the Flash. Those losses were versus Niagara, Maryland, Robert Morris, Central Connecticut, and Stonehill alongside a lone win versus Franciscan University. Since then St. Francis PA has gone 2-5. The two wins were over Stonehill and Mercyhurst. Otherwise, it was losses to Robert Morris, Central Connecticut, Stonehill, Long Island U, and Wagner, giving the Flash a 7-13 overall record through the first 20 games of this year’s campaign.
Matched up against Wagner on Monday, the Red Flash emerged from the locker room with a 32-25 deficit. St. Francis PA fought back to force overtime but eventually took a tough loss 70-68 in the end. Leading the team in scoring was Riley Parker with 19 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Chris Moncrief added 13 points with four boards and three assists off the bench, and Valentino Pinedo put up a double-double on 12 points and 11 boards.
Why the Saint Francis Red Flash will win
- LIU has lost seven of its last eight road night games against the Northeast Conference.
- The home team has won 10 of the last 12 games between LIU and Saint Francis.
- LIU has lost the first half in each of its last 11 road night games against the Northeast Conference.
Why the LIU Sharks will win
- LIU has won each of its last six games.
- Saint Francis has lost six of its last seven night games against the Northeast Conference.
- LIU has won the first half in each of its last three games against the Northeast Conference.
St. Francis PA vs Long Island University Prediction
I’ll stick with LIU. The Sharks had some rough bumps in the road during their OT win over a struggling Mercyhurst team, mostly due to their 20 turnovers for 10 Lakers points. Long Island U shot well in that one though (49 percent) and had a 36-27 rebounding edge. That makes 70 or more points in three of the six games during this current win streak.
The last time these teams met up wasn’t that long ago. LIU took a 64-51 victory at home over the Flash back on January 18. The Sharks had turnover trouble in that one as well—notching 16 for 13 St. Francis PA points. Otherwise, though, it was a solid effort from LIU featuring 44.7 percent shooting and a 37-23 rebounding edge. St. Francis PA should do slightly better here in a home rematch, but I like the Sharks to power it out—so long as LIU can get the turnovers under control, that is.