FAIRFIELD, Conn.— Junior Nico Galette scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Sacred Heart men's basketball team to a thrilling 94-86 overtime Northeast Conference victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday evening in the Pitt Center. The Pioneers had five players score in double figures, including a double-double from Bryce Johnson.  

Records:
Sacred Heart: 14-14, 7-6 NEC
Fairleigh Dickinson: 15-13, 8-5 NEC

Top Performers:
Nico Galette: 27 points, 8 rebounds
Kenneth Womack: 15 points, 8 assists
Mike Sixsmith: 15 points, 5 rebounds
Tanner Thomas: 12 points
Bryce Johnson: 11 points, 13 rebounds

Of Note:
Fairleigh Dickinson was able to tie the game, 75-75, with 53 seconds remaining. The Pioneers got the ball to Galette, who waited until there was just enough time left on the shot clock to beat the buzzer with a jumper and go up two with 30 seconds left in the game. The Knights answered and tied the game again with 18 seconds left. Sacred Heart once again could rely on Galette to give them a lead, with a jumper with 4.4 seconds to go. FDU got the ball back and was able to tie it up one final time, 79-79, with 0.1 left in the game to force overtime.

The Pioneers, who were playing in their second consecutive overtime game, came out strong in the extra period. Womack and Galette had the first four points of OT to take an 83-79 lead. The Knights answered with a layup, but the SHU rattled off the following six points to take an eight-point lead, 89-81. Sacred Heart was ahead by as many as nine points in overtime as they were able to take the 94-86 final.

The Knights initially had a six-point lead through the opening six minutes of play, but Sacred Heart used a 14-0 run to come from behind and take a nine-point lead, 25-16, at 8:19 in the first half. The Knights were able to cut their deficit to two at 5:22, but the Pioneers used a 12-0 burst to take its largest lead of the game, 41-27, with 1:33 left in the half. A layup by Womack at the halftime buzzer would give the Pioneers another 14-point advantage, 43-29, going into halftime.

In the exciting overtime victory, Galette scored a career-high 27 points. Womack also had a career day with 15 points and eight assists. Johnson recorded his ninth double-double of the season in the win.

Sacred Heart has now swept the series with FDU this season. 

Up Next:
Sacred Heart is back in action on Saturday, February 18th, at home to host Merrimack at 2 PM. The game will be nationally televised live on CBS Sports.