FAIRFIELD, Conn— Nyle Ralph-Beyer scored a career-high 24 points as the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team fell to Siena, 80-73, at home on Sunday afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action in the Pitt Center.
 
Anquan Hill (22), Amiri Stewart (14), and Bryce Johnson (11) also scored in double figures, and first-year Mekhi Conner dished out a game-high 13 assists.
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 11-14, (7-7 MAAC)
Siena: 12-14, (7-8 MAAC)
 
Leaders:
Nyle Ralph-Beyer: 24 points, 10-17 FG
Anquan Hill: 22 points, 5 rebounds
Amiri Stewart: 14 points, 6 rebounds
Bryce Johnson: 11 points, 5 rebounds
Mekhi Conner: 13 assists 
 
Of Note:
Nyle Ralph-Beyer shot 71.4% (10-17), and Anquan Hill was 50% (9-18) from the field as the two combined for 46 points to lead the Pios. Amiri Stewart went 4-for-7 from the field and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.

With a 9-9 tie at 14:54 in the opening half, Siena scored five straight to push ahead, 14-9. SHU answered and pulled within three, but the Saint answered again and jumped to a six-point edge.
 
After a layup for Ralph-Beyer pulled the Pioneers within three but Siena answered with six straight to take its largest lead of the half, 34-25 with 4:22 left to play.
 
A Hill three-point play off an and-one pulled Sacred Heart within five with just under a minute until the break, but Siena added another layup to hold the 40-33 edge at halftime.
 
SHU responded with a strong start to the second half, going on an 8-2 run to pull within one, 42-41. Siena answered and jumped ahead by six through the following minutes. However, the Pioneers continued to pull within two, but the Saints had an answer every time.

Siena pulled away late in the second half; a triple at 10:28 sparked an 11-0 run to take a 15-point lead with 6:43 remaining. The Pioneers managed to stage a late run, cutting the lead to just one with 1:36 left thanks to a Ralph-Beyer dunk, but a Siena three-pointer and a handful of free throws helped the Saints take the 80-73 final.

Up Next:
Sacred Heart will be back in action on Friday, February 21, at 7:00 pm at Merrimack.