SHU to Host In-State Opponent Mitchell on Sunday
12/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Setting the Scene... The Pioneers, who recently had their three-game winning streak snapped last Monday at Lafayette, look to rebound as they welcome Division III opponent, Mitchell, to the William H. Pitt Center for a 3:30 PM tip on Sunday.
Toys for Tots... Sacred Heart University will be partnering with Toys for Tots over the next three SHU home games on December 14, 17, and 20. Any fan that brings a new, unwrapped toy to any one of those games, will receive a free ticket to future game.
Last Time Out... With the game tied at 81-81 and time winding down, Lafayette's Dan Trist rebounded an air ball and got fouled on the put back attempt with 0.4 seconds remaining. After missing the first foul shot, Trist nailed the second to put the Leopards up 82-81. On the ensuing inbound, Steve Glowiak's half court effort missed off the rim, sealing the one-point victory. Despite 52.5 percent shooting and four players scoring in double figures, led by a double double from De'von Barnett, the Pioneers fell to 4-4 on the year. Trist led Lafayette with 20, as the Leopards improve to 6-2.Trailing 77-67 with 4:29 to play, the Pioneers outscored the Leopards 14-4 over the next 4:02 to tie the game at 81 with twenty seven seconds remaining. Trailing by three points, Jordan Allen got fouled after making a layup and drained the ensuing foul shot to even the score.
Series History... For the fifth time in nine games this season, Sacred Heart will be playing an opponent for the first time ever.
All-Time vs. Division III... SHU has not faced a Division III opponent since making the move to Division I in 1999-2000. The only time that the Pioneers faced a Non-Division I school was on December 22, 2002, when they defeated Division II member Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, 77-64, at the San Juan Shootout.
Scouting Mitchell... The Mariners come into the contest with a 1-4 record on the season and are currently on a three-game losing skid. They most recently fell to fellow New England Collegiate Conference member Elms, 84-68, last Saturday. Mitchell's lone win on the year came on November 16, when it defeated Maine Maritime, 95-73, in the Ramada Roundball Invitational. The Mariners are averaging 80.7 points per game on 41.4 percent shooting, but give up an average of 93.6 points, while opponents are shooting 51.3 percent from the floor. The Mariners get outrebounded by opponents by an average of 8.8 per contest, despite averaging 37.2 per game. The defense forces 18.4 turnovers per game, thanks in large part to averaging 10 steals. Mitchell boasts two players who average at least 20 points per contest. Leading the way is Parris Hill at 27.2. Donavon McClean adds 20.4. The only other Mariner averaging over six points is Devonta Mosley at 9.6. Hill and McClean also lead the team in rebounding, at 8.0 and 5.8 per game, respectively. Hill is the team leader in steals as well, at 2.4 per game. Alan Morgan leads the Mariners in assists averaging 3.4 per contest.
Winning in the Pitt... With two straight wins in the William H. Pitt Center over Campbell and Holy Cross, SHU has already surpassed its home win total of one in 2013-14. The win over Campbell snapped a five game losing streak at the venue. Entering the game against Campbell, the Pioneers were 1-15 in their previous 16 at the Pitt, with the win coming last year on January 11 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, 71-67.
Looking to Match Last Season's Win Total... With a win over Mitchell, Sacred Heart would match its win total from 2013-14 at 5, in just the ninth game. Last season, the Pioneers reached five victories in their 30th game of the season on February 27.
Fourth Win of the Season... Sacred Heart won its fourth game of the season last Saturday in the seventh game of the year. The fourth win this season comes more than a month earlier than the fourth win last campaign. The Pioneers won their fourth game in 17th game of the season on January 11.
Breaking the Trend... The loss on Monday to Lafayette was the first time this season that SHU has outshot an opponent and lost. The Pioneers are now 4-1 in games in which they have a higher shooting percentage than their opponent, and 0-3 when the foe has a higher percentage.
One Point Loss... The one point loss at Lafayette last Monday was the first time SHU has lost by one point since an, 81-80, loss to Mount St. Mary's on January 28, 2012.
Continuing to Lose Close... With the one-point loss to Campbell, 14 of the last 17 losses for the Pioneers have come by single digits.
Defense wins Games... Lafayette scored 82 in the game on Monday. Sacred Heart has not won a game when allowing 77 points or more in twenty seven games dating back to an, 85-82, victory over Yale in the 2012-13 season opener.
Hot Shooting in Two Straight.. SHU has shot at least 52.5 percent in each of the last two games. The previous time that they have shot a percentage that well in back to back games was a three-game stretch from February 8-16, 2012.
Shooting Fifty Percent... - The team shot over fifty percent on Monday (52.5) for the second consecutive game and the third time this season. The Pioneers only reached the fifty percent mark in three games all of last season.
Hot Shooting in a Loss.. The Pioneers shot 52.5 percent in the loss to the Lafayette on Monday night. The last time SHU shot a percentage that high in a loss came on December 9, 2012, when it also lost to Lafayette, 72-70, despite shooting 53.6 percent from the floor.
Second Rated Offense... SHU ranks second in the NEC in both scoring offense (68.6) and FG percentage (.443).
-In wins the offense is averaging 73.5 points on 51.2 percent shooting, while in losses the offense has only managed 63.8 points per game on 38.1 percent shooting from the floor.
-Sacred Heart is averaging 77.7 points in December after scoring just 63.2 per game in November.
Stingy Defense... The Pioneer defense ranks 1st in the NEC in FG percentage defense, holding opponents to 43.0 percent shooting. They have held four of eight foes to under 40 percent shooting on the year.
-In wins, SHU is holding opponents to .371 percent from the floor, while in losses the opponent is shooting .484.
-Despite being first in FG percentage defense, that they still rank 6th in ppg allowed (70.7).
Failing to find the Range... Sacred Heart ranks last in the NEC in 3 pt FG per game (4.63) and eighth in 3 pt FG percentage (.298).
-Despite that the Pioneers have averaged just 3.25 three pointers in their four wins, while averaging 6 in their four loses.
Crashing the Boards... The Pioneers rank third in the NEC in both rebounding (35.6) and rebounding margin (-1.4).
-SHU is averaging more rebounds in losses (37.0) than wins (34.2).
