FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After not playing in over a week, the Sacred Heart University men's basketball was back in action on Saturday afternoon and topped Fairleigh Dickinson, 77-71. Junior Tyler Thomas and senior Aaron Clarke led the Pioneer offense with a pair of 20-point performances while sophomore Nico Galette contributed a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds. 
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 6-10, 2-3
Fairleigh Dickinson: 1-11, 2-3
 
Top Performers:
Tyler Thomas: 24 points, 4 rebounds
Aaron Clarke: 21 points, 5 assists
Nico Galette: 17 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers remain on their home court on Monday, January 17 against Central Connecticut State at 7 p.m. 
 
Of Note:
Clarke netted his 1,000^th career point at the 16:12 mark in the first half. He became the 44^th in SHU's history to reach the milestone and 16^th in its Division I era.
 
The first half saw four lead changes until the final minute when a pair of free throws from Galette sparked a 7-0 run to help the Pioneers grow to a seven-point lead at the halftime break, 37-30. Sacred Heart refused to relinquish its lead for the remainder of the game.
 
The Knights would get as close as three to start the second half, but the Pioneers defense held FDU to 20% shooting (2-10) from three and 15-of-39 from the field. In the final two minutes, SHU sank three-of-four from the stripe to build its largest cushion of the day, 72-60. 
 
The Pioneers finished the game shooting 50% from the field (27-53) and added 18 of their 77 points from the line. The game marked the fifth time this season that Sacred Heart shot over 50% and the team is 4-1 when doing so. 
 
The Thomas and Clarke duo each posted their fifth 20-point performance of the season as Thomas was 10-of-20 from the field for 24 points. Clarke finished the game with 21 points off seven-of-11 shooting and dished out five assists without turning the ball over. 
 
Galette now has four double-doubles on the year as he posted 17 points and 11 rebounds.