FAIRFIELD, Conn.— Raymond Espinal-Guzman scored a season-high 11 points to lead the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team in a 67-57 home loss to Fairfield on Saturday evening. Alex Sobel and Nico Galette also scored in double figures for the Pioneers.

Records:
SHU: 4-7
Fairfield: 4-6

Leaders:
Raymond Espinal-Guzman: 11 points, 5 rebounds
Nico Galette: 10 points, 7 rebounds
Alex Sobel: 10 points, 5 rebounds

Of Note:
Sacred Heart came out strong in the first half in front of a packed William H. Pitt Center, taking a three-point lead at the halftime break. Fairfield came alive in the second half with SHU right on their heels, climbing their way back and pulling within five with just over two minutes left. However the Stags were able to hold on and take the road win. 

After trailing by three through the opening two and a half minutes, Galette made a layup at 17:16 that sparked a 7-0 run, capped by a dunk from Espinal-Guzman to give the Pioneers an 8-4 advantage at 14:16. The Stags answered with a run of their own and pulled ahead 10-8 at 11:43.

Aidan Carpenter made a layup to tie the game 10-10, and the Pioneers took off with an 11-0 run capped by a trey from Joey Reilly to put SHU ahead 19-10. Back-to-back scores from Galette and Sobel gave the Pioneers its largest lead of the day at 23-11 before the Stags went on a run of their own to pull within three. Sacred Heart held a 23-20 lead at the half.

Sobel put the Pioneers by five to open the second half, but the Stags tied it up 25-25 at 17:41. A three-pointer for Fairfield gave the Stags their first lead of the second half, 28-27. Solomon made two free throws to tie it up again and take a one-point lead.

Fairfield scored the next five to take a 34-31 advantage. A dunk by Espinal-Guzman pulled the Pioneers within one, but the Stags answered right away with a three-pointer, sparking a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 43-33.

Fairfield maintained the lead throughout the half, but the Pioneers cut the deficit to five after a three-pointer from Kyle McGee with 2:22. The Stags answered to go ahead by nine, but Joey Reilly gave SHU hope with a three with 1:12 left to pull within six.

Fairfield was able to control the final minute and end with the 67-57 final.

The Pioneers had 19 points off turnovers and 23 bench points. Espinal-Guzman had his second double-figure game this season and led the Pioneers for the first time in his career.

Up Next:
Sacred Heart is back on the road to take on its second Big East opponent of the season at Providence on Saturday, December 16, at 1:30 pm.