FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University men's basketball team continues its three-game road swing on Saturday, Nov. 29, with a 6 PM tip at Penn State. The Pioneers travel to Happy Valley for a non-conference matchup against the Nittany Lions for the fourth time in series history.

LIVE STATS | Peacock | GAME NOTES

OPENING TIP

• Sacred Heart and Penn State meet for the fourth time in series history, with the Nittany Lions holding a 3–0 advantage dating back to 2004. This marks the first matchup between the programs since Nov. 25, 2009. All three previous meetings have taken place at Penn State.
• The Pioneers enter the contest following a dramatic 108–106 overtime loss to Central Connecticut on Monday evening. Penn State is coming off a 96–87 home victory over Boston University on Tuesday.
• Anquan Hill led four Pioneers in double figures with a career-high 34 points. Dashon Gittens added a career-best 22, while Yann Farell posted 20 points and Fallou Gueye chipped in 11.
• Hill leads the MAAC in scoring at 18.7 points per game, and SHU ranks second in the league in scoring offense at 82.0 points per game.
• The Pioneers were picked third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll and led the league with three preseason All-MAAC selections: 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 (Gittens, and 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, 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 PENN STATE   

• Penn State enters the matchup with a 6-1, record. Its lone loss came at the Hall of Fame Showcase on Saturday, Nov. 22 to Providence, 77-65.
• There are three Nittany Lions averaging in double figures: Kayden Mingo (14.5), Freddie Dilione V (14.0), and Melih Tunca (13.8). Mingo is the team leader in rebounds with 4.3, and there are three players right behind with 4.2.
• There are 10 new players on the PSU roster this season, with only one returning starter.
• Penn State is 6th in the country in fewest turnovers/game (7.8), 7th in fewest fouls/game (13.2), and 26th in assist/turnover ratio (1.85).

LAST TIME OUT

• Anquan Hill scored a career-high 34 points in Sacred Heart's 108-106 overtime loss to Central Connecticut State on Monday evening.
• Dashon Gittens also had a career high with 22 points. Yann Farell scored a season-high 20 points, and Fallou Gueye added 11.
• Sacred Heart finished the night shooting 50.7% (34–67) from the field and 43.3% (13–30) from beyond the arc.

INSIDE THE RANKINGS

• Sacred Heart's offense ranks second in the MAAC at 82.0 points per game.
• The Pioneers' 73 made three-pointers leads the conference, averaging 12.2 per game — seventh nationally.
• SHU also ranks 10th in the country in three-point attempts per game at 33.3.
• Hill leads the MAAC in scoring at 18.7 points per game, while Dashon Gittens ranks sixth at 15.6 per contest.
• Hill is also fifth in the league in rebounding at 7.2 per game.
• Taj Bryant (.545) and Gittens (.478) rank fourth and seventh, respectively, in three-point field goal percentage.
• Mekhi Conner ranks third in the conference with 4.7 assists per game, with Bryant 11th at 3.2.
• Conner also leads the MAAC in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.1.
• Gittens ranks fourth in the league in steals, averaging 2.2 per game.