Monday, January 19
Lawrenceville, NJ
2:00 PM
Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics
at
Rider University
Photo by: Josh Gee
Men’s Basketball Travels to Rider on Monday
1/18/2026 4:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Pioneers Open Three-Game Week
FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Fresh off its second Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) win of the season, the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team travels to Rider on Monday, January 19, for a 2 p.m. tip to open a three-game week.
LIVE STATS | ESPN+ | GAME NOTES
OPENING TIP
LIVE STATS | ESPN+ | GAME NOTES
OPENING TIP
- Sacred Heart and Rider meet for the fourth time in series history, but for just the second time in the last 25 years. The Broncs hold a 2–1 advantage in the all-time series.
- The Pioneers enter the matchup following an 86–80 MAAC road victory at Siena on Wednesday, while Rider is coming off a 69–58 road loss at Saint Peter's.
- All five Sacred Heart starters scored in double figures at Siena, led by Anquan Hill's 22 points and Nyle Ralph-Beyer's 21. Dashon Gittens recorded his third career double-double in the win.
- Hill has scored in double figures in all three games since returning from injury, including two 20-plus point performances.
- Gittens ranks ninth in the MAAC in scoring at 14.1 points per game, while Ralph-Beyer is 12th at 13.1. Sacred Heart ranks fifth in the conference in scoring offense (74.5 ppg) and leads the MAAC in three-pointers made per game (10.6).
- Four Pioneers are averaging double figures this season: Hill (16.2 ppg), Gittens (14.1 ppg), Ralph-Beyer (13.1 ppg), and Yann Farell (11.4 ppg).
- Sacred Heart was 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), and Ralph-Beyer (Third Team).
- The Pioneers return nine players from last season's roster and added two transfers—Gittens and Farell—along with four first-year players. Sacred Heart is in its second season in the MAAC after a strong debut that included a seventh-place finish and a conference tournament win over Fairfield to reach the quarterfinals.
- Sacred Heart features three student-athletes from Africa—Fallou Gueye, Yann Farell, and Abdou Yadd—and is celebrating its 60th season of men's basketball. Head coach Anthony Latina is in his 13th season at the helm.
- Rider holds a 1–7 record in MAAC play, with its lone league win coming against Iona, 72–68. The Broncs are coming off a 69–58 road loss at Saint Peter's on Saturday.
- Flash Burton (12.8 ppg) and Zion Cruz (12.3 ppg) are the team's leading scorers, while Caleb Smith leads Rider on the glass at 7.1 rebounds per game.
- Rider was selected 10th in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, and Cruz earned Preseason All-MAAC Third Team honors.
- All five starters scored in double figures, led by Hill and Ralph-Beyer with 20-plus points apiece, as Sacred Heart earned an 86–80 MAAC road victory over Siena on Wednesday evening at MVP Arena.
- The Pioneers came out firing, knocking down nine three-pointers in the opening half. Hill and Ralph-Beyer combined for six triples in the first five-and-a-half minutes.
- Siena briefly took a one-point lead in the first half, but Sacred Heart responded and carried a 42–38 advantage into the break.
- Ralph-Beyer opened the second half with a three-pointer to extend the lead to seven. Siena pulled within three multiple times, but the Pioneers answered each run.
- A Conner three-pointer at the 10:01 mark gave Sacred Heart a nine-point cushion, 63–54. Siena closed to within one, 73–72, with 2:50 remaining, but a Ralph-Beyer triple and two Hill free throws restored breathing room.
- Siena cut the deficit to two twice in the final minute, but a Gittens layup and two late free throws from Hill sealed the victory.
- Sacred Heart ranks fifth in the MAAC in scoring offense at 74.5 points per game and leads the conference with 201 made three-pointers, averaging 10.6 per game (23rd nationally). The Pioneers are also tied for 21st nationally in three-point attempts per game (30.1) and rank ninth in the country in free throw percentage (78.71%).
- Individually, Gittens ranks ninth in the MAAC in scoring at 14.1 ppg, while Ralph-Beyer is 13th at 13.1. Gittens owns the 10th-best field-goal percentage in the league at 50.9%.
- Ralph-Beyer (.459) and Farell (.424) rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in the MAAC in three-point percentage, with Ralph-Beyer's mark ranking 11th nationally.
- Conner is second in the conference in assists per game (5.6), ranking 39th nationally, and leads the MAAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3). His 106 total assists rank 25th in the country.
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