FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University men's basketball team will play its second straight road game on Tuesday, Dec. 16 against UMass Lowell at 6 pm.

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OPENING TIP

• Sacred Heart and UMass Lowell meet for the 52nd time in series history, dating back to 1969 when Lowell competed as Lowell Tech. The teams will face off for the first time since 2022.SHU holds a 28-23 series advantage.
• The Pioneers enter the matchup following a 65–49 road win at NJIT, while the River Hawks are coming off a 75–71 road loss at Quinnipiac.
• Three Pioneers scored in double figures against NJIT, led by a season-high 21 points from Nyle Ralph-Beyer. Dashon Gittens recorded the first double-double of his career, and Anquan Hill added 14 points.
• Gittens (15.9 ppg) and Hill (14.9 ppg) both rank in the MAAC's top 10 in scoring, with Gittens fourth and Hill eighth.
• Sacred Heart ranks fourth in the MAAC in scoring offense (77.2 ppg) and leads the conference in three-pointers made per game (11.4).
• Four Pioneers are averaging double figures this season: Gittens (15.9), Hill (14.9), Ralph-Beyer (12.6), and Yann Farrell (10.0).
• SHU was 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
• Sacred Heart 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 UMASS LOWELL   

• UMass Lowell enters the contest following a 75–71 road loss at Quinnipiac.
• Austin Green (14.0 ppg) and JJ Massaquoi (11.9 ppg) are the River Hawks' top scorers, both averaging double figures this season.
• Green also leads Lowell on the glass, averaging 7.4 rebounds per game.
• Lowell is 0–2 against MAAC opponents this season, with losses to Saint Peter's and Quinnipiac.
• The River Hawks were picked fourth in the America East preseason coaches' poll.
• 12 of 13 players on the roster have not suited up for UMass Lowell.

LAST TIME OUT

• Sacred Heart earned a 65–49 victory at NJIT on Saturday afternoon, securing its second road win of the season.
• Three Pioneers scored in double figures, led by a season-high 21 points from Ralph-Beyer, who knocked down a career-best five three-pointers.
• Gittens recorded the first double-double of his career with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
• Hill added 14 points to round out the double-figure scorers.
• The Pioneers shot 42.9 percent (24-of-56) from the field and held a 40–34 advantage on the glass.
• Gittens has scored in double figures in every game he has appeared in this season.
• Jaden Slaughter pulled down a career-high eight rebounds.
• Mekhi Conner has recorded five or more assists in six consecutive games.

INSIDE THE RANKINGS

• Sacred Heart's offense ranks fourth in the MAAC at 77.2 points per game.
• The Pioneers lead the conference with 114 made three-pointers, averaging 11.4 per game, tied for sixth nationally.
• SHU also sits 12th in the country in three-point attempts per game (32.6).
• Gittens is fourth in the MAAC in scoring at 15.9 ppg. He owns the fourth-best field-goal percentage in the conference at 57.5% and also ranks fifth in the league in steals at 2.1 per game.
• Hill is eighth in scoring at 14.9 points per game and is eighth in the league in rebounding (6.2 rpg).
• Ralph-Beyer (.511) and Farell (.471) are second and fourth in the MAAC in three-point percentage and are 16th and 17th in the nation, respectively.
• Conner ranks second in the conference with 5.6 assists per game and holds the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.4.