EMMITSBURG, Md..— Behind career nights from Dashon Gittens and Abdou Yadd, the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team earned its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) victory of the season, defeating Mount St. Mary's, 87–80, on Wednesday evening. Four Pioneers scored in double figures as SHU secured its first road win of the year.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 3–5 (1-0 MAAC)
Mount St. Mary's: 2-7 (0-1 MAAC)

Leaders:
Dashon Gittens: 23 points, 7 rebounds
Abdou Yadd: 21 points, 5-8 3PT FG  
Yann Farell: 17 points, 6 rebounds
Nyle Ralph-Beyer: 10 points, 3-6 3PT FG

How it happened:
After a slow offensive start, the Pioneers found their rhythm midway through the opening half. Both Yadd and Yann Farell reached double figures before the break, helping SHU shoot 47.6% (10–21) from three-point range in the first period.

Trailing 23–15, Sacred Heart responded with a 7–0 run to pull within one at 23–22. The teams continued to trade baskets until a Farell jumper followed by a Yadd three gave SHU a 27–26 lead. Neither team led by more than three until Jaden Slaughter buried a three-pointer and knocked down two free throws on the next possession to put the Pioneers up 39–32.

Mount trimmed the deficit to four at the 3:16 mark, but back-to-back threes from Gittens and Farell pushed SHU ahead by 10, 47–37. The Mountaineers closed the gap again, but a Gittens tip-in sent the Pioneers into halftime up 51–45.

SHU opened the second half with four straight points, including a Nyle Ralph-Beyer triple to extend the lead to 55–45. Mount answered with a surge of its own, eventually tying the game and taking its final lead of the night, 60–59, with 12:02 remaining. Sacred Heart immediately countered with an Anquan Hill free throw and a Yadd three-pointer to reclaim a five-point cushion.

The Pioneers led by as many as eight down the stretch. Mount closed within three on three separate occasions, but a Gittens tip-in off an inbound pass from Mekhi Conner restored a two-possession lead. Sacred Heart held strong in the final minute to close out the 87–80 win.

SHU shot 43.9% (25–57) from the field, hit 13 threes, and won the rebounding battle 38–29, including 15 offensive boards.

Of Note

• Abdou Yadd posted a career-high 21 points on 7–15 shooting and 5–8 from deep.
• The Pioneers outrebounded Mount St. Mary's 38–29, including 15 offensive rebounds.
• Sacred Heart's bench outscored the Mount 30–22, led by Yadd's 21.
• Mekhi Conner recorded five or more assists for the fourth straight game.
• Dashon Gittens' 23 points marked a career high. He has scored in double figures in every game this season, including two 20+ point performances.

Up Next
Sacred Heart returns home for its first MAAC contest in the Pitt Center on Sunday, December 7, hosting Iona at 2 p.m.