FAIRFIELD, Conn.— Nico Galette scored a team-high 20 points to lead the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team in a 78-64 loss to Providence College on the road on Saturday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. Three Pioneers scored in double figures.

Records:
SHU: 4-8
Providence: 9-2

Leaders:
Nico Galette: 20 points, 6 rebounds
Alex Sobel: 16 points, 6 rebounds
Aidan Carpenter: 11 points

Of Note:
The Pioneers had a strong opening half, only trailing by one, 31-30 at the break. Sacred Heart opened the game with a 6-2 run to take an early lead through the opening four minutes. Providence knocked down a three to pull within one, but Alex Sobel answered with a layup to extend the Pioneers lead 8-5.

The Friars put away the next five points to take their first lead of the game, 10-8, at 13:47 in the first. From there, neither team led by more than three points until 2:15 left in the half. Providence made a layup to extend its lead to four, 29-25. However, Galette answered with a trey to pull within one. The Friars made a layup with 47 seconds left in the half, but Galette knocked down a jumper with 29 seconds on the clock for the last basket of the half, as Providence led 31-30 at the break.

Providence took a three-point lead to open the second half, but Sobel and Kyle McGee made back-to-back layups and Joey Reilly made two free throws to put SHU ahead, 36-33, at 17:30. The Friars answered with a layup to jump ahead 37-36, but Sobel was right there and ready with a dunk as SHU regained the lead, 38-37, at 16:17. Providence went on and scored six straight points to take their largest lead of the game so far, 43-38.

Galette and Aidan Carpenter kept the Pioneers within four until a Providence jumper would put the Friars up, 50-44, with 12:52 in the half. Carpenter knocked down his lone three-pointer of the game to bring SHU within two again, 53-51, at 9:51.

Providence went on a run to take a 10-point lead with 6:57 left in the second. At 4:45, the Friars went up 67-54, but the Pioneers scored the next four to cut the deficit to nine, 67-58.

Providence hit a three with 23 seconds on the clock to extend their lead, but Galette made two free throws with 15 seconds left for the 78-64 final.

Up Next:
The Pioneers will play on the road again on Tuesday, December 19, at the University of Albany at 7:00 pm.