BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, NY – Needing a win to stay in one of the top four spots for the Northeast Conference tournament, the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team came through in the second half at St. Francis Brooklyn on Sunday. The Pioneers outscored the Terriers, 48-38, in the final 20 minutes on their way to the 88-82 decision.

Records:
St. Francis Brooklyn: 8-9, 8-8 NEC
Sacred Heart: 8-7, 8-6 NEC

Top Performers:
Aaron Clarke (SHU): 21 points, 6 assists
Tyler Thomas (SHU): 18 points, 3 assists
Cantavio Dutreil (SHU); 13 points, 11 rebounds

Up Next:
Sacred Heart returns home to wrap up the regular season with two games against Fairleigh Dickinson, February 25-26.

Of Note:
For just the second time this season the Pioneers prevailed after trailing at the half. Sacred Heart made seven three-pointers in the second half and was 11-for-13 at the free throw line.

Aaron Clarke scored 15 of his team-high 21 points in the second half, including 4-for-4 from distance while Alex Watson added 10 points.

Swinging the game in SHU's favor was a 13-2 run during the middle five minutes of the second half. Unique McLean put SFBK up 50-47, but Clarke keyed the run with a three-pointer and three-point play. 

The lead grew to as many as 10 three times and Sacred Heart got defensive stops when it needed them as Terriers couldn't make it a one possession game the rest of the way.

Clarke topped 20 points for the third time this year and dished out a season-high six assists. Tyler Thomas continued his torrid scoring run with 18 points. SHU got 94 percent of its points from the starters as all five reached double digits. Cantavio Dutreil posted a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double and Watson just missed his career-high with 14 points.

Sacred Heart shot 49.2 percent from the field and 45 percent from behind the arc, the second-best rate of the year. Both teams made several trips to the charity stripe with SHU going 19-of-25 to the Terriers' 21-of-27.