FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University men's basketball opened its newly renovated William H. Pitt Center in style with a thrilling 67-54 victory over in-state rival Central Connecticut on Thursday evening. Tanner Thomas led three Pioneers in double figures as SHU won its first home game of the season.
Thomas had a game-high 18 points, while Amiri Stewart had 14, and Mekhi Conner tallied 10.
Records:
Sacred Heart: 2-5
CCSU: 2-3
Leaders:
Tanner Thomas: 18 points, 5 rebounds
Amiri Stewart: 14 points, 7 rebounds
Mekhi Conner: 10 points, 3 assists
Of Note:
The Pioneers thrived off their opening-night environment and dominated throughout the game. Thomas hit the Pioneers' second three-pointer early on to spark a 16-2 run, capped by a trio of free throws for Anquan Hill, as Sacred Heart took a 19-5 lead.
The Blue Devils answered with a jumper, but Stewart scored the next five points for SHU, including a highlight-reel alley-oop with help from Conner to take a commanding 23-7 lead at 12:26.
The Pioneers led by as many as 17 through the next six minutes before an Aidan Carpenter layup put SHU ahead by 19, 33-14. Central answered with a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 12 with 3:52 left in the first half. Sacred Heart went on a 7-2 run to take a 43-26 lead at the break.
Thomas opened the second half with a triple to give Sacred Heart its first 20-point lead of the night, where they would maintain the dominant advantage for the following six minutes.
Central started to chip away at the Pioneers' lead, cutting their deficit to 15 with 12:12 left in the second half, but a triple for Nyle Ralph-Beyer sparked an 8-0 run as SHU took its largest lead of the game at 60-37.
Sacred Heart held a 22-point lead with just under four minutes left in the game but Central scored the last nine points to cut their deficit to 13 but the Pioneers took the 67-54 final for its first home win of the season.
SHU outrebounded CCSU, 40-37, and shot 42.9 % from the field. The Pioneers scored 21 points off turnovers with 16 bench points.
Up Next:
Sacred Heart will jump back on the road after Thanksgiving, traveling to Boston University on December 1 at 4:00 pm.
