FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University men's basketball team opens its second week of play on the road on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 pm at Villanova for the second game of the Villanova Challenge.

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OPENING TIP

• Sacred Heart and Villanova will meet for the first time on Tuesday evening.
• The matchup marks the second game of the Villanova Challenge for both teams. SHU opened the tournament with a 92-80 loss at Duquesne on Friday, while Villanova earned a 94-74 win over Queens University of Charlotte on Saturday.
• Nyle Ralph-Beyer (17), Dashon Gittens (16), and Anquan Hill (13) each scored in double figures for the Pioneers against Duquesne.
• The Pioneers were picked third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll and led the confer-ence with three preseason All-MAAC selections:
  • Anquan Hill - First Team
  • Mekhi Conner - Second Team
  • Nyle Ralph-Beyer - Third Team
• SHU returns nine players from last year's roster.
• The team welcomes two transfers (Dashon Gittens, Yann Farell) and four first-year players.
• Sacred Heart enters its second season in the MAAC after a strong debut that included a seventh-place finish and a conference tournament win over Fairfield to reach the quarterfinals.
• The Pioneers feature three student-athletes from Africa: Fallou Gueye, Yann Farell, and Abdou Yadd.
• Sacred Heart is celebrating its 60th season of men's basketball.
• Head coach Anthony Latina enters his 13th season leading the program.

 
SCOUTING VILLANOVA

• Villanova enters the matchup with a 1-1 record.
• The Wildcats opened the season with a 71-66 loss to No. 8 BYU before defeating Queens University of Charlotte, 94-74, on Saturday to begin the Villanova Challenge.
• In their home opener, four Wildcats scored in double figures, led by Bryce Lindsay's 25 points. Lindsay paces five players averaging double figures this season with 23.5 points per game. Duke Brennan leads the team on the glass with 17.5 rebounds per contest.
• Head coach Kevin Willard is in his first season at the helm of the Wildcats. The roster features just three returners from last year's squad — Tyler Perkins, Matt Hodge, and Wade Chiddick.
• Villanova was picked seventh in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll.

LAST TIME OUT

• Nyle Ralph-Beyer (17), Dashon Gittens (16), and Aquan Hill (13) led the Pioneers in double figures.
• After a back-and-forth opening half, Duquesne took a 45–42 lead into the break. SHU cut it to five on a Dashon Gittens layup with 10:49 remaining, but Duquesne regained control and maintained a double-digit advantage.
• Sacred Heart shot 37.5% (21-56) from the field.
• Ralph-Beyer, Gittens, and Hill have scored in double figures in both games this season.
• The Pioneers got 22 points from their bench.
• The game featured four ties and seven lead changes.