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After a snow storm on January 29 postponed the original date for the Northeast Conference matchup, the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team will host Merrimack on Tuesday at 7 p.m. on NEC Front Row. 

OPENING TIP

• Sacred Heart is embarks on its first of three games in five days. The Pioneers host Wagner on Thursday before its second meeting with Merrimack on Saturday in North Andover, Mass.
• The original date of this game was January 29 and was postponed due to inclement weather. 
• Tuesday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams. SHU split with the Warriors a year ago which marked the first win against Merrimack since it moved to Division I. The Pioneers are 1-4 against Merrimack thanks to a 22-point performance from Tyler Thomas in the 68-62 feat.
• Merrimack enters Tuesday after ending the longest winning streak in D1 basketball this year when it topped Wagner, 80-65, in overtime on Saturday. 
• Sophomore Bryce Johnson posted his first 20-point game at FDU. He added a season-best 13 rebounds to complete his third double-double of the season.

ICY BRYCE-Y
Bryce Johnson had a career game at FDU when he posted his third double-double of the season. The sophomore notched career-bests in points (22), field goals made (8) and free throws made (5). Johnson also tied his season-best of 13 rebounds in his first 20-point performance of his career. Against the Knights, Johnson shot a nearly perfect 8-of-9 from the field and the 6-6 forward also added a three in the process. 

DEFENSE IS KEY
Sacred Heart is 7-0 when holding opponents to 1.0 points per possession or less and 0-13 on the latter. At Mount St. Mary's, the Pioneers allowed 1.48 points per possession for their largest margin of defeat on the year. In its most recent victory, SHU held St. Francis Brooklyn to 0.94. SHU is 6-0 when keeping opponents under 70 points and 6-0 when holding team's to 39% shooting or below from the field.