FAIRFIELD, Conn.--  Alex Sobel and Raheem Solomon each scored in double figures, leading the Sacred Heart University men's basketball in a 68-67 home loss to Central Connecticut State University in Northeast Conference action on Saturday afternoon. The setback is the first home loss for the Pioneers since December 9.

Sobel had 17 points as he shot 8-for-14 from the floor and tallied five blocks for the second straight game. Solomon scored in double figures with 16 points as he shot 5-for-9 from the field and 2-for-5 from three-point range. 

Sacred Heart now sits in a two-way tie for third place with FDU in the conference standings with two games left in the regular season.  

Records:
SHU: 14-15, 8-6 NEC
CCSU: 17-10, 11-3 NEC

Leaders:
Alex Sobel: 17 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks
Raheem Solomon: 16 points, 4 rebounds
Nico Galette: 10 rebounds, 9 points

Of Note:
Sobel had a big first half to help propel the Pioneers to a 33-22 lead through the opening frame. Sobel was the only player in the game with double figures at the half and tallied three of his five blocks in the first half.

Neither team led by more than three points until a Sobel layup put SHU ahead by five, 17-12, at 7:27. A pair of CCSU free throws brought the Blue Devils within three, 19-16, but a Mike Sixsmith triple gave the Pios a 22-16 edge at 4:51.

A layup for the Blue Devils at 3:20 brought the visitors within four, but Sacred Heart went on a 9-2 run to close out the half and take its largest lead of the day so far at 33-22.

Sobel opened the second half with a layup to extend the Pioneer's lead to 13. SHU maintained its double-figure advantage until a CCSU jumper sparked a 13-2 run to pull within two, 41-39.

Nico Galette and Solomon scored four straight points to put SHU ahead 46-39, but Central used a surge to tie the game 48-48 at 9:23.

With SHU ahead by one, Central Connecticut made a layup to kick off a 9-0 run, taking a 57-49 edge, their first lead since 11:47 in the opening frame.

With Central leading by nine, Sobel hit a free throw and a layup, followed by back-to-back triples for Solomon to bring the Pios within one, 59-58.

CCSU went ahead 62-60, but a big-time block by Sobel gave the Pioneers the ball and sent Joey Reilly to the hoop to tie the game 62-62 with 49 seconds left.

A pair of fouls put CCSU ahead by four with nine seconds left in the game. Despite a Kyle McGee layup with three seconds left, CCSU added two more, and Galette hit a three as time expired, but the visitors were still ahead by one to take the 68-67 final.

Before the game, Sacred Heart honored Raheem Solomon, Brendan McGuire, Mike Sixsmith, Tommaso Ferraresi, Kyle McGee, Joey Reilly, and Nico Galette in a senior day ceremony to celebrate their contributions to the Pioneers men's basketball program.

Up Next:
With two games left in the regular season, Sacred Heart will travel to Stonehill on Thursday, February 29, at 7:00 pm.