NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - The Sacred Heart University men's basketball snapped its two-game losing streak by defeating NEC-foe Central Connecticut, 80-66 on the road Saturday afternoon at Detrick Gymnasium. The win improves the Pioneers' record to 13-16 overall and 9-7 in league play, while the Blue Devils drop to 11-18 on the year and 5-11 in NEC action. With the win, the Pioneers have clinched a berth in the NEC Tournament for the fourth time in five years.

The Pioneers had five players score in double-figures, with Sean Hoehn's 18 points leading the way. E.J. Anosike and Kinnon LaRose added 13 points and eight rebounds apiece, while Koreem Ozier and Zach Radz each scored 12 points apiece

SCORE  

SHU 80 / CCSU 66

RECORDS

SHU (13-16) (9-7 NEC) | Central Connecticut (11-18) (5-11 NEC)

LOCATION

Detrick Gymnasium / New Britain, Conn.

PIONEERS STATISTICAL LEADERS

• Points: Hoehn 18, Anosike 13, LaRose 13, Radz 12, Ozier 12

• Rebounds: LaRose 8, Anosike 8

• Assists: Parker 10

• Steals: Ozier 1

• Blocks: Spellman 6

FIRST HALF

• The Blue Devils used the opening 3:40 of the contest to go on an 14-0 run

• After the Pioneers went on a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 14-7 with 13:40 remaining, CCSU responded with a 6-2 lead to increase its lead to 20-9 with 11:51 remaining in the half

• Trailing 20-9, the Pioneers went on a 13-6 run to trim the CCSU lead to 26-22 with 7:53 left in the first half

• Trailing 28-22 with 7:01 left in the half, the Pioneers closed the half with a 20-7 run to take a 42-35 lead into halftime

• Zach Radz, Sean Hoehn and Kinnon LaRose each scored eight points apiece in the first half

SECOND HALF

• After CCSU cut the SHU lead to 42-40 with 18:56 left in the half, the Pioneers went on an 11-2 run to increase its lead to 53-42 with 16:11 remaining in the half

• The Blue Devils responded with a 14-7 run to cut the SHU lead to 60-56 with 10:02 remaining in the half

• The Pioneers responded with an 11-4 run of its own to push its lead to 71-60 with 5:15 to go

• SHU held on for the 80-66 win

NOTES

• With the win, the Pioneers have clinched a berth in the NEC Tournament for the fourth time in five years.

• The Pioneers had five players score in double-figures (Hoehn 18, Anosike 13, LaRose 13, Ozier 12, Radz 12

• Sean Hoehn led the way with 18 points

• Hoehn tallied double-figure points in 25 of the Pioneers' 29 games

• Hoehn has tallied 1,304 career points, placing him 24th on the program's all-time scoring list

• E.J. Anosike and Kinnon LaRose added 13 points and eight rebounds apiece

• Koreem Ozier and Zach Radz each scored 12 points apiece

• Ozier has totaled double-figure points in 14 of the 20 games he has appeared in

• Jare'l Spellman added five points, seven rebounds and six blocks in the win

• Spellman has registered four or more blocks in 11 contests this season

• Cameron Parker dished out 10 assists in the win

• Parker has recorded 10 or more assists in six games this season

UPCOMING GAME

Sacred Heart will be back in action on Thursday Feb. 28, when the Pioneers play host to Robert Morris at 6:00 p.m.