SHU Clinches Sixth With 80-68 Win Over Saint Francis

Saturday, February 26

Fairfield, Conn.

2:00 PM

Sacred Heart

10-19,6-10NEC

Saint Francis University

9-20,5-13NEC

Team	1	2	F
Saint Francis (PA)	34	34	68
Sacred Heart	33	47	80

Senior Day: Alex Watson, Aaron Clarke, Cantavio Dutreil, Zach Pfaffenberger, Brian Rice

Photo by: Steve McLaughlin

SHU Clinches Sixth With 80-68 Win Over Saint Francis

2/26/2022 6:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

The Pioneers will play Wednesday at #3 LIU in the NEC Quarterfinal

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University men's basketball team clinched sixth place in the Northeast Conference with an 80-68 win over Saint Francis on Saturday on Senior Day.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 10-19, 6-10
Saint Francis: 9-20, 5-13

Top Performers:
Nico Galette: 18 points, 4 rebounds
Tyler Thomas: 17 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Bryce Johnson: 14 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Aaron Clarke: 10 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists

Up Next:
The Pioneers clinch sixth in the NEC which means SHU will travel to #3 Long Island on Wednesday for the quarterfinal round.

Of Note:
There were 10 lead changes in the first half as the teams traded baskets in nearly every possession. Despite posting more field goals and three-pointers than the visitors, the Red Flash held the advantage at the halftime break thanks to a 5-of-7 clip from the stripe. Sacred Heart netted 14-of-30 from the field, 4-for-9 from three, while Saint Francis went 13-for-33 and 3-of-11 from distance.

At the 9:51 mark in the second half, Bryce Johnson swiped the ball in transition and found a wide-open Nico Galette for the slam. In the very next possession, Johnson stole the ball again and found Galette in the corner for a three. The ten-second sequence sparked a 14-2 run and differentiated the Pioneers from the Red Flash as they pulled to a double-digit lead, 71-55. SHU road out the advantage for the remainder of the game.

Galette led the Pioneers with 18 points as he matched his career-high with four made three's. The last time Galette netted four three's was when he hit the 20-point mark earlier this season at LIU. The 6-6 forward shot 4-of-7 from three and finished 7-of-12 from the field. Junior Tyler Thomas trailed Galette with 17 and added six assists and two steals.

Johnson notched his fifth double-double of the year as he tallied 14 points and 15 rebounds. The sophomore has grabbed double-digit rebounds in five of the last six games and has led the Red & White on the glass in all six.

Senior Aaron Clarke posted his eighth-straight double-digit game with ten points. Clarke also contributed three assists.

Not to be overlooked, sophomore Mike Sixsmith posted nine points thank to three important threes in the second half. Today marked the third time this season that Sixsmith netted three three's in a single game.