ALBANY, N.Y. — Five players scored in double figures, led by Anquan Hill and Nyle Ralph-Beyer with 20-plus points apiece, as the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team earned an 86–80 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) road victory over Siena on Wednesday evening at MVP Arena.

Records
Sacred Heart: 6–13 (2–6 MAAC)
Siena: 11–7 (4-3 MAAC)

Leaders
Anquan Hill: 22 points, 5 rebounds
Nyle Ralph-Beyer: 21 points, 6 rebounds
Mekhi Conner: 15 points, 5 assists
Dashon Gittens: 12 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists
Yann Farell: 10 points, 7 rebounds

How It Happened
Sacred Heart came out firing, knocking down nine three-pointers in the opening half. Ralph-Beyer and Hill accounted for six triples in the first five-and-a-half minutes. Holding a slim 9–8 lead, the duo connected on back-to-back threes to extend the advantage to 15–8.

Siena trimmed the margin to five, but Ralph-Beyer and Hill responded again, combining for five straight points to push the Pioneers ahead 20–10 at the 14:02 mark.

The Saints chipped away at the deficit and used a five-point run to take their first lead of the night, 28–27, with 7:51 remaining. The teams traded baskets until Mekhi Conner buried a pair of three-pointers to put Sacred Heart back in front, 35–30. Siena pulled within one at 2:24, but the Pioneers closed the half on a 5–2 run to take a 42–38 lead into the break.

Ralph-Beyer opened the second half with a three to extend Sacred Heart's lead to seven. Siena pulled within three several times over the next few minutes, but the Pioneers answered each push to maintain the edge.

At the 10:01 mark, a Conner triple gave Sacred Heart a nine-point cushion, 63–54, before Siena responded with a run to pull within two. Sacred Heart led by as many as six over the next several minutes, but the Saints closed to within one, 73–72, at the 2:50 mark. A Ralph-Beyer three and two free throws from Hill restored breathing room for the Pioneers.

Siena cut the deficit to two twice in the final minute, but a Dashon Gittens layup and two late free throws from Hill sealed the 86–80 victory.

Sacred Heart shot 42.9 percent (15-of-35) from three-point range and outrebounded Siena, 41–40.

Of Note

• Gittens recorded his third career double-double and dished out a career-high eight assists.
• Hill set a career high with four three-pointers made and scored 20 or more points for the second consecutive game.
• Conner knocked down a career-high five triples.
• All five starters scored in double figures.

Up Next
Sacred Heart continues its road swing with a trip to Rider on Monday, January 19, at 2:00 p.m.