FAIRFIELD, Conn.— After picking up its second Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) victory on Sunday, the Sacred Heart men's basketball team hosts Merrimack on Friday, Jan. 10, at 11:00 AM in the William H. Pitt Center. SHU has gone 2-0 during its three-game homestand with wins over Manhattanville and Canisius. The Pios meet the Warriors for the first time in MAAC action.  
 
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OPENING TIP

• Sacred Heart and Merrimack meet for the 36th time overall, dating back to 1967. SHU owns a 22-13 advantage in the all-time series
• The Pioneers will wrap up their three-game home stand, where they have gone 2-0 with wins over Manhattanville (100-60) and Canisius (99-82). 
• Sacred Heart is coming off a 99-82 MAAC home victory over Canisius on Sunday. Tanner Thomas scored a season-high 24 points along with 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Six Pios scored in double figures in the win.
• Thomas was named this week's MAAC Player of the Week.  
• As a team, SHU's three-point percentage, 38.48%, is ranked 26th nationally amongst Division I men's basketball teams. 
• Amiri Stewart is 45th in the NCAA DI in steals per game at 2.08.
• Three Pioneers are averaging double figures: Thomas (13.6), Stewart (12.2), and Anquan Hill (12.2)
• Bryce Johnson leads the team in rebounds with 6.0 per game, followed by Anquan Hill (5.0) and Thomas (4.8). 
• Mekhi Conner is the team leader in assists (5.0) & Stewart (2.1) in steals (45th in the nation)
• Thomas was named to the All-MAAC preseason third team. 
• This year is Sacred Heart's first season as a full-time member of the MAAC.The Pioneers have 10 new players on the team. 
• Head Coach Anthony Latina is in his 12th season as head coach and 20th year overall with the Pioneers. 

LAST TIME OUT

• Tanner Thomas scored a season-high 24 points along with 11 rebounds to secure his first double-double of the season, leading SHU to a 99-82 victory over Canisius in MAAC action on Sunday afternoon.
• Anquan Hill notched his first double-double at SHU with 13 points and 11 rebounds, as six Pioneers scored in double figures in the win.
• Griffin Barrouk had his third straight double-figure performance, scoring a career-high 19 points, going 7-for-12 from the field and 5-for-10 from three-point range.
• Mekhi Conner added 10 points and dished out a career-high nine assists, while Amiri Stewart (13) and Bryce Johnson (10) also scored in double figures for the Pioneers.

ABOUT THE WARRIORS

• Merrimack is undefeated in MAAC play at 3-0. They were picked 6th in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll and Budd Clark was named to the 1st team. 
• Clark leads the MAAC in ppg with 19.9. Devon Savage is the only other Warrior averagin double figures with 10.1. 
• Merrimack's defense is ranked third in the MAAC (66.8)