From NEC Champs to Final Division 1 Season in Program History

Chris Moncrief at 2025 Media Day. (Courtesy/Saint Francis Athletics)

Senior guard Chris Moncrief is entering his final year at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, after coming off a strong junior season, punching a ticket to March Madness after winning the NEC Championship against Central Connecticut. 

After securing a bid in the biggest tournament in college sports, the team was told by the School Board that they would be moving from Division I to Division III athletics after the 2025-2026 season.

“The way I felt after that game ended I was so devastated and hurt. Words couldn’t describe how much pain I felt for our team,” Moncrief said. “We worked so hard to get that point and we were winning the whole game. It was just unfortunate how it ended.”

Saint Francis elected to move down due to the unaffordable cost and D1 responsibilities, such as Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payments, the transfer portal and travel expenses. The high cost of a Division I program discouraged Saint Francis to continue.

According to Saint Francis University, instead there was a refocus on student-athlete mental health, academic development and alignment at St. Francis, which was being overlooked by the demands of Division 1.

Even with the demotion and the disappointment that came with it Moncrief’s older sister, Bria Bowie, was proud of her brother’s evolution from when he first picked up a basketball until now.

“Being his big sister, watching him go from playing at Turtle Creek gym, to then AAU, then high school, then getting a scholarship for college, and making it to the big dance in March Madness makes me proud to be his sister,” Bowie said.

Chris Moncrief in the locker room after winning the NEC Championship and securing a March Madness bid. (Courtesy/Chris Moncrief)

“Last year was probably the best and most fun I had with any team I have played with,” Moncrief said. I will never forget the memories and the fact that we made history.”

Saint Francis Punches Ticket to the Dance

Last season, the Saint Francis Red Flash secured its first NCAA March Madness appearance since 1991, putting the school back on the map. Saint Francis took on Alabama State in the First Four Round. Late in the second half, Moncrief hit the game-tying shot against Alabama State to even the game at 68. Cliff Moncrief sat on the edge of his seat watching his son hit the game-tying shot with time expiring.

​“My wife and I were at the game, and the atmosphere was electric,” Cliff Moncrief said. “The momentum of the game was leaning towards SFU.” Then everything changed.

Saint Francis had possession, and within a minute, Cliff Moncrief and his wife, Shavon Moncrief, were standing and shouting for their son.

​“The ball passed to Chris, shot clock under 5 seconds, Chris’s body language told me he was going to make a play,” Cliff Moncrief said.

Chris Moncrief crossed over, created separation and rose up for the shot.

“On the release, we held our breath, his shot hit the bottom of the net. We and all SFU fans screamed with relief and excitement. That moment played into all the years of training. Proud dad moment,” Cliff Moncrief recalled with a smile.

Despite the shot, Alabama State threw a Hail Mary pass full court to hit a go-ahead layup with time expiring to move on to face Auburn in the next round.

Loyalty to the Red Flash 

Even though Saint Francis made a historic run, the program would still be demoted to Division III. Saint Francis lost the majority of their rotation to the portal, but Moncrief decided to stay for his final season as a captain of this year’s roster. 

“This is the last year of my college career and the last year the school will be DI, so I wanna do everything in my power to make sure I give my best every time I stop on the court,” Moncrief said.

He added that his blood, sweat and tears will be left on the floor with the expectation that this last year will be his best year.

“My expectations for senior year are to win another NEC Championship and go back to the NCAA tournament,” Chris Moncrief said.

He has his eyes set on his final opening game at Saint Francis.

Saint Francis takes on Oklahoma, Monday, Nov. 3, the start of the Red Flashes’ final season as a Division I program.

“When it’s all said and done, I hope to be remembered as a great basketball player, but even a better person,” Chris Moncrief said.