FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Following a thrilling 79-66 home victory over Holy Cross on Friday, the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team will make a quick trip up to New Britain to take on Central Connecticut State on Monday, Nov. 24, at 7 pm.  

LIVE STATS | NEC Front Row | GAME NOTES

OPENING TIP

• Sacred Heart and Central Connecticut meet for the 76th time in series history. SHU trails narrowly, 38–37, but won the most recent matchup last season on opening night of the newly renovated Pitt Center.
• Both teams enter the game coming off victories. SHU defeated Holy Cross at home on Friday, 79–66, while CCSU earned an impressive 67–54 road win at Rutgers.
• Mekhi Conner led five Pioneers in double figures with 18 points on Friday, and Anquan Hill recorded his second double-double of the season.
• Central's victory over Rutgers marked its second win over a Power 4 opponent this year, having previously defeated Boston College, 60–59, on Nov. 11.
• The Pioneers were picked third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll and led the league with three preseason All-MAAC selections: Hill – First Team, Conner – Second Team, Nyle Ralph-Beyer – Third Team
• SHU returns nine players from last year's roster.
• The team welcomes two transfers (Dashon Gittens and Yann Farell) and four first-year players.
• Sacred Heart enters its second season in the MAAC after a strong debut campaign that included a seventh-place finish and a conference tournament win over Fairfield to advance to 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 CCSU  

• Central owns two wins over Power 4 opponents this season, defeating Boston College (60–59) and, most recently, Rutgers (67–54).
• The Blue Devils feature three players averaging double figures: Darin Smith Jr. (16.6), Jay Rodgers (10.6), and Max Frazier (10.0). Frazier also leads the team on the glass with 7.6 rebounds per game.
• CCSU enters the matchup at 3–2, with its losses coming against Quinnipiac (71–49) and UMass (84–77).
• Central was selected second in the NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• CCSU has 10 newcomers this season

LAST TIME OUT

• Sacred Heart knocked down a season-high 16 three-pointers in its victory over Holy Cross on Friday.
• The Pioneers had five players score in double figures.
• Sacred Heart shot 40% (16-40) from beyond the arc and received 20 points from its bench.
• Hill recorded his second double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
• Conner scored a season-high 18 points and hit four threes.
• Jaden Slaughter posted a career-high 13 points while shooting 60% (6-10).
• Gittens has scored in double figures in four straight games.