NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.-- In a thrilling Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) matchup, the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team defeated Merrimack 60-59 on Friday evening on the road. Anquan Hill and Bryce Johnson both recorded their third double-double of the season, while Tanner Thomas rounded out double-figure scorers with 12 points. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 12-14, (8-7 MAAC)
Merrimack: 14-13, (11-5 MAAC) 

Leaders:
Anquan Hill: 17 points, 10 rebounds
Tanner Thomas: 12 points, 7 rebounds 
Bryce Johnson: 10 points, 10 rebounds 

Of Note:
After trading baskets through the opening few minutes with neither team leading more than two, a layup for Bryce Johnson, and a pair of back-to-back dunks for Anquan Hill, Sacred Heart came from down two and took a 12-8 lead at 12:22 in the first half. 

An and-one play for Merrimack pulled the home team within one, but the Pioneers had one of their own from Johnson to jump back ahead 15-11. 

After a Tanner Thomas layup to give SHU a 17-13 lead, Merrimack answered with a 10-0 run to come from behind and take a 23-17 edge. However, four straight points from Hill and a triple from Mekhi Conner put SHU ahead, 24-23 at 4:21 in the first.

The Warriors make a jumper to take a 25-24 lead, but another Conner three-pointer put the Pioneers ahead 27-25. A Merrimack layup tied the game, 27-27, at 2:10, but a pair of free throws for Johnson gave SHU another two-point edge. The Warriors again tied the game, heading into halftime at 29-29. 

In the opening few minutes of the second half, Merrimack broke the tie with a three-pointer to take a 34-31 lead, but Sacred Heart scored five straight points to regain the lead, 36-34. A pair of free throws for Merrimack tied the game again, but four consecutive points for Tanner Thomas gave SHU a four-point edge, 40-36. 

Through the next 10 minutes, neither team led by more than four until a Hill layup pushed the Pios ahead, 56-51. At 1:28, a Merrimack triple pulled the Warriors within one, 58-57, but Conner secured a pair of free throws to give SHU a three-point lead, 60-57. 

Merrimack drew a three-point shooting foul with three seconds on the clock but only made two of three free throws as the Pioneers held on to claim the 60-59 victory. 

Hill shot 58.3% (7-12) from the field, leading SHU with 17 points. Thomas was 54.5% (6-11) from the field, and Johnson shot 42.8% (3-7) from the field and 4-5 from the free throw line for his 10 points. 

Up Next: 
Sacred Heart will wrap up its weekend road trip on Sunday, February 23, at Saint Peter's at 2:00 pm.