LOWELL, Mass. – The Sacred Heart University men's basketball team struggled to put the ball in the basket at UMass Lowell on Sunday afternoon. As a result, the Pioneers fell, 70-62, as they close out their seven-game road stretch. 
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 4-8
UMass Lowell: 8-4
 
Top Performers:
Nico Galette: 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist
Tyler Thomas: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers return to the William H. Pitt Center for the first time in over a month when they host in-state foe Hartford on Wednesday, December 22 at 11 a.m.
 
Of Note:
UMass Lowell proved to be the more efficient team despite attempting 17 fewer field goals than the Pioneers. The Riverhawks shot 48 percent (24-50) from the field and 54.5 percent from long distance (12-22) compared to SHU who was 37.3 percent from the field (25-67) and 25.9 percent from behind the arc (7-26). Both teams shot under 60 percent from the foul line but Lowell was able to pull out ten points from the stripe while Sacred Heart could only muster five. 

The field goal percentage marks the second lowest this season and the lowest in a road contest. SHU posted 35.6 percent (21-59) against Fairfield earlier this year at the Pitt Center. 
 
Sacred Heart trailed for the entirety of the game and tried to make a push in the final minutes. With under three minutes remaining, the Pioneers pulled within one point on two occasions but could not contain the Riverhawks on the other end of the floor to take the lead.  
 
The Pioneers dominated the offensive glass as they grabbed 17 second chance points off 17 offensive boards. SHU concluded the game with 40 total rebounds and held UMass Lowell to 36. 
 
On the defensive end of the floor, Sacred Heart forced 14 turnovers which resulted in 15 points. Its just the third time this season that the Pioneers committed less turnovers than their opponent. 
 
Junior Tyler Thomas led the Red & White in scoring for the third-consecutive game with 13 points. Sophomore Nico Galette matched Thomas and was two rebounds shy of a double-double. 
 
The Pioneers fall to 0-4 against America East opponents this season.