FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University men's basketball team opens Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on Wednesday, Dec. 3, when the Pioneers travel to Mount St. Mary's for a 7 PM tipoff. SHU closes out its three-game road swing before returning home for another MAAC contest on Sunday.
LIVE STATS |
ESPN+ |
GAME NOTES
OPENING TIP
- Sacred Heart and Mount St. Mary's meet to open MAAC play on Wednesday. This is the 46th meeting between the programs; Mount St. Mary's leads the all-time series, 30–15. This is the first of two matchups between the teams this season.
- SHU is coming off a 90–59 road loss at Penn State. Mount St. Mary's enters the game following a 79–75 home win over Howard.
- Dashon Gittens (15) and Nyle Ralph-Beyer (14) scored in double figures to lead the Pioneers. Jaden Slaughter posted career highs in rebounds (7), steals (4), and assists (3).
- Anquan Hill ranks second in the MAAC in scoring at 17.1 points per game.
- SHU ranks fourth in the conference in scoring offense, averaging 78.7 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, 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 MOUNT ST. MARY'S
- Mount St. Mary's enters the matchup with a 2–6 record.
- The Mountaineers' wins came at Saint Francis (74–66) and at home vs. Howard (79–75).
- Three players are averaging double figures: Arlandus Keyes (12.8), Luke McEldon (12.3), and Trey Deveaux (11.3)
- McEldon leads the team and ranks sixth in the MAAC in rebounding (6.5 rpg). His 60.3% field-goal percentage is third in the conference.
- Xavier Lipscomb ranks third in the MAAC in assists (4.8 apg).
- Keyes and Lipscomb are the Mount's top two returners from last year's MAAC Championship team.
LAST TIME OUT
- Sacred Heart fell on the road to Penn State on Saturday evening, 90-59.
- Gittens (15) and Ralph-Beyer (14) scored in double figures to lead the Pioneers.
- Slaughter posted career highs in rebounds (7), steals (4), and assists (3).
- This was the sixth straight game in double figures for Gittens.
- Lucius Gibson-Savadel had a career-high four points and matched his career-high three rebounds.
INSIDE THE RANKINGS
- Sacred Heart's offense ranks fourth in the MAAC at 78.7 points per game.
- The Pioneers lead the conference with 82 made three-pointers, averaging 11.7 per game,13th nationally. SHU also sits 17th in the country in three-point attempts per game (32.0).
- Hill ranks second in the MAAC in scoring at 17.1 points per game and is ninth in the league in rebounding (6.1 rpg).
- Gittens is eighth in scoring at 15.5 per game and owns the sixth-best field-goal percentage in the conference at 56.6%. He is also fourth in the league in steals at 2.3 per game.
- Yann Farell (.447) and Gittens (.423) both rank inside the MAAC's top 10 in three-point percentage.
- Conner ranks fourth in the conference with 4.7 assists per game and holds the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.0.
