SMITHFIELD, R.I. –The Sacred Heart University men's basketball team battled to the end at Bryant as the Pioneers redeemed themselves from last year's NEC Semifinal. Despite the strong offensive effort, Bryant came out on top, 85-82, on New Year's Eve. 
 
It was a total team effort as four Pioneers contributed double figures, including a 20-point effort from senior Aaron Clarke and a double-double of 18 points, 16 rebounds from sophomore Nico Galette. Senior Cantavio Dutreil added a career-high 16 points followed by Tyler Thomas with 15 and a career-best seven assists. 
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 5-10, 1-1
Bryant: 6-7, 2-0
 
Top Performers:
Aaron Clarke: 21 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Nico Galette: 18 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
Cantavio Dutreil: 16 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block
Tyler Thomas: 15 points, 7 assists, 2 steals, 1 rebound, 1 block
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers are back in 2022 when they take a short trip to New Britain, Conn. to face in-state foe Central Connecticut State on January 6.
 
Of Note:
The Bulldogs were dominant in the first half shooting 57.1 percent (20-35) from the field. Midway through the first half, Bryant capitalized on a missed Pioneer free throw to kickstart an 8-0 run which gave the Bulldogs a 10-point cushion that they maintained for the remainder of the half, 48-38. Half the points in the run came in transition as Bryant grabbed 13 fast-break points and 34 of its 48 first-half points from the paint.  
 
Coming out of the locker room, Dutreil immediately gave the Pioneers a spark as he netted the first six points of a 10-0 run to erase the double-digit deficit and pull SHU within two. The two teams battled for the remainder of the half, but the Pioneers were unable to grab the advantage. In the final four minutes of the game, neither team was able to hit a field goal as they each went four-for-four from the line. Clarke pulled the game within one in the final two minutes, but the Pioneers didn't have enough to pull it out as Bryant took the three-point victory. 
 
Clarke tallied his fourth 20-point performance this season, ninth of his career, off six-of-16 shooting and a five-for-five clip from the stripe. The senior sits just five points away from the 1,000-point milestone. 
 
Galette matched his career-best of 18 points for the third time this season as he also notched his third double-double of the year with an added 16 rebounds. Dutreil also posted a career-high with 16 points. The Haiti native was three rebounds away from a double-double with seven. 
 
Thomas led with a career-high seven assists and contributed 15 points for the second-straight game. He also led with a team-high two steals. 

The 82 points is the most the Pioneers scored against a Division I opponent during regulation this season. SHU posted 86 in an overtime win at La Salle and 109 against NAIA opponent Fisher.