Jan. 31, 2009

Final Stats

FAIRFIELD, CT - Senior Joey Henley (Kent, WA) had his third consecutive double double with 16 points and ten rebounds, leading six Sacred Heart University players in double figures as the Pioneers defeated visiting Central Connecticut State University in a Northeast Conference men's basketball game Saturday afternoon.

The was the fourth straight for the Pioneers and moved them to 10-11 overall and into third place in the NEC standings at 7-4. CCSU fell to 10-11 and 6-5 in conference.

A three-pointer from senior Marcus Palmer gave Central CT its only lead of the game at 11-9. After Joe Seymore extended it to 12-9, freshman Shane Gibson (Killingly,CT) drained a three to tie it and a Henley layup with 11:21 left in the first half made it 14-12. The Pioneers would never trail again. Another Gibson trey with 2:18 to go in the half gave SHU its biggest lead of the period at eight and they would carry a 34-28 edge into the locker room at half.

Palmer hit a three to start the second half for the Blue Devils to cut the Pioneer lead to three but it was as close as they would get. Gibson's third three of the game with 11:38 left gave the Pioneers a 52-42 advantage. Shemik Thompson, who finished with 16 points, tried to keep CCSU in it. His three with 8:33 left cut the gap to 55-50, but a Ryan Litke (Windsor, CT) three two minutes later saw the Pioneers get the lead back up to ten at 64-54.

A pair of Thompson free throws with 3:41 to go still had the Blue Devils close at 66-61, but senior Ryon Howard answered for the Pioneers with a 15-footer with 2:33 to go to make the SHU lead seven. Central was forced to foul late and the Pioneers hit seven of their eight free throws in the final two minutes to hang on for the victory.

Litke finished with 15 for the Pioneers and Hassan chipped in 13. Gibson finished with 11, while junior Chauncey Hardy had ten and a game-best six assists.

Sophomore Ken Horton finished as the leading scorer for Central with 18 points. He also had a team-high eight rebounds. Palmer finished with 14 and Seymore 11.

The Pioneers will be in action again when they host Quinnipiac on Thursday at seven, in a game being televised on MSG.