Just more than a week prior to their TD Banknorth Center debut, the Bobcats saw St. Francis (N.Y.) score the last 13 points of the game but still fall short as a Robert Hines 3-pointer hit the rim at the final buzzer. Quinnipiac held on for a 74-72 win that was a 19-point game at halftime.

The win was the fourth in a row for the Bobcats.

"Maybe (the late, former long-time coach) Burt Kahn had something to do with that last shot not going in," said Quinnipiac coach Joe DeSantis, who took over the program in 1995, five years after Kahn retired. "It was important that we left here with a win. The man that this gym is named after was quite a coach.

"It's not secret that it's been hard for me to get wins recently. But every time I look at his record, I have nothing but respect for the man."

The win, in the only game of the week, lifted Quinnipiac to 6-10 overall, 4-3 in the Northeast Conference.

The Bobcats had a Jan. 25 date at Fairleigh Dickinson to worry about before coming back to play LIU in their new state-of-the-art home.

Quinnipiac, which had lost nine straight, beat Saint Francis (Pa.), Wagner, Monmouth and St. Francis (N.Y.) to get its four straight wins, the first two of those victories coming on the road.

--Joe DeSantis compiled a 59-54 record on the court during his tenure as the Bobcats' coach.

--DeSantis had his players write Kahn's initials on their sneakers for the final game on the court.

--Quinnipiac's four-game winning streak matched the longest current streak in the conference.

--The Bobcats lost to Fairleigh Dickinson, 80-75, at home Dec. 9, and hoped for a season split when they traveled to New Jersey Jan. 25. They were set to host LIU Jan. 27 in the opening of the TD Banknorth Center and have to visit LIU Feb. 17.

--Last year, Quinnipiac was 1-0 against LIU.

--Quinnipiac had lost eight games this season by single digits.

--Quinnipiac was second in the conference in field-goal percentage defense, scoring margin, assists and 3-pointers, tied for second in 3-point field-goal percentage and third in field-goal percentage, steals and defensive rebounds.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I was disappointed in the last 16 minutes of the game. But all we wanted was a win, and thank God we won." -- Quinnipiac coach Joe DeSantis after his team barely escaped with a win against St. Francis (N.Y.).

PLAYER ROTATION: Usual starters -- F Chris Wehye, C Victor Akinyanju, G Adam Gonzalez, G Van Crafton, G Casey Cosgrove. Key subs -- F Karl Anderson, G DeMario Anderson, F Dale Meinbresse, F Andrew Cashin, G Job Casimir, G Jason Wilson.

GAME REVIEW:

Quinnipiac 80, Wagner 72

Quinnipiac 71, Monmouth 51

Quinnipiac 74, St. Francis (N.Y.) 72

GAME PREVIEW:

At Fairleigh Dickinson, Thursday, Jan. 25

Vs. LIU, Saturday, Jan. 27

Vs. Central Connecticut, Monday, Jan. 29

KEYS: This team was on a roll and winning in different ways. The Bobcats learned in the game against St. Francis that a game isn't over at halftime just because you have a 19-point. They can grow from that.

ROSTER REPORT: C Victor Akinyanju was second in the league in offensive rebounds per game (2.75), third in field-goal percentage (.565), fourth in blocked shots per game (1.1) and seventh in overall rebounding (6.9). He was averaging 11.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game during the four-game winning streak.

--G DeMario Anderson had come off the bench to average 19.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game during the team's streak.

--G Van Crafton hit five 3-pointers against St. Francis to run his career total to 181. He was sitting at No. 3 in the conference in 3-point field-goal percentage (.431) and was fourth in assists per game (2.83).