FAIRFIELD, Conn. - E.J. Anosike's go-ahead three-pointer with 59 seconds left in regulation pushed Sacred Heart University men's basketball past defending NEC Tournament winners LIU Brooklyn, 79-75, at home Thursday evening on Coach Bike Court at the Pitt Center to open NEC-play. The win improves the Pioneers to 5-9 and 1-0 in the NEC on the year, while the Blackbirds fall to 6-7 and 0-1 in the NEC.

The Pioneers had three players score in double-figures with Anosike leading the way with 19 points. Koreem Ozier added 16 points, while Sean Hoehn chipped in 11 points in the win.

SCORE  

SHU 79 / LIU Brooklyn 75

RECORDS

SHU (4-9) (0-0 NEC) | LIU Brooklyn (6-6) (0-0 NEC)

LOCATION

Coach Bike Court at the Pitt Center / Fairfield, Conn.

PIONEERS STATISTICAL LEADERS

• Points: Anosike 19, Ozier 16, Hoehn 11

• Rebounds: Spellman 9, Ozier 6, Anosike 6

• Assists: Parker 6, Clarke 4

• Steals: Hoehn 3, Anosike 2

• Blocks: Spellman 1, LaRose 1

FIRST HALF

• The Pioneers used the opening 4:53 of the contest to go on a 15-4 run

• After the Blackbirds cut SHU's lead to 15-8, the Pioneers responded with a 15-7 run to take a 30-15 lead with 9:16 remaining

• After SHU pushed its lead to 40-22 with 5:03 remaining in the half, the Blackbirds closed the half with a 16-6 run to cut SHU's lead to 46-38 at halftime.

SECOND HALF

• With SHU leading 49-42 with 18:15 left in the half, LIU Brooklyn went on a 13-5 run to take its first lead of the game at 55-54 with 12:25 remaining in regulation

• After SHU fell behind 61-56 with 11:01 remaining in the half, the Pioneers went on a 5-0 run to tie the contest at 61-61 with 9:46 left in the half

• After LIU Brooklyn pushed its lead to 67-63 with 6:43 remaining, the pioneers answered with a 7-4 run to take a 70-67 lead with 4:49 left

• Koreem Ozier scored five of the seven points for the Pioneers

• After an E.J. Anosike dunk put SHU up 74-70, the Balckbirds battled to take a 75-74 lead with 1:25 remaining in regulation

• The Pioneers took the lead for good after Anosike nailed a corner three-pointer to give SHU a 77-75 lead with 59 seconds left

NOTES

• The win marks the first time the Pioneers opened conference-play with a win since the 2015-16 season

• The Pioneers' win over LIU Brooklyn made it the first time that SHU defeated the Blackbirds since Feb. 6, 2016, when the Pioneers won 98-90 at the Pitt Center

• The Pioneers had three players score in double-figures with Anosike's 19 points leading the way

• Anosike knocked down a career-high three three-pointers in the win

• Anosike has knocked down six three-pointers so far this season, he did not make any as a freshman last season

• Koreem Ozier's scored 10 of his 16 points in the first half

• Sean Hoehn's three steals made it the fourth time this season he had three or more steals

• Jare'l Spellman's team-high nine rebounds marked the ninth time this season that he led the team in rebounding.

UPCOMING GAME

Sacred Heart will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 5 when the Pioneers play host to in-state rival and NEC-foe Central Connecticut State at the Pitt Center at 3:30 p.m.