FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Trailing 70–57 with less than four minutes remaining, the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team erupted for a decisive 14–0 run to claim a dramatic 71–70 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) victory over Niagara on Saturday afternoon at the Pitt Center.

The comeback was capped by a thrilling game-winning sequence in the final seconds. Dashon Gittens found Anquan Hill cutting to the basket, where Hill finished through contact, drew the foul, and calmly converted the free throw to complete the three-point play and secure the win.

Gittens and Hill led the Pioneers with 19 points each, as Gittens reached the 1,000-point mark for his career in the process.

Records
Sacred Heart: 9–13 (5-6 MAAC)
Niagara: 5–15 (2–8 MAAC)

Leaders
Dashon Gittens: 19 points, 5 rebounds
Anquan Hill: 19 points, 4 rebounds
Nyle Ralph-Beyer: 14 points, 2 rebounds

How It Happened
Sacred Heart erased a 13-point deficit and held Niagara scoreless over the final four minutes, closing the game on a 14–0 run to secure its fourth consecutive victory.

Gittens ignited the rally with a layup and an and-one at the 3:17 mark of the second half, a basket that also marked his 1,000th career point. Mekhi Conner and Hill delivered timely contributions during the surge, knocking down three-pointers and converting at the free-throw line to keep the Pioneers within striking distance.

In the final moments, Niagara missed a free throw, giving SHU one last possession. Following a timeout, Conner inbounded the ball to Gittens, who quickly found Hill cutting to the hoop. Hill finished strong, drew the foul, and converted the go-ahead free throw to complete the comeback.

Despite trailing for much of the contest, Sacred Heart stayed within striking distance early, never falling behind by more than five in the opening half until a Niagara three-pointer at the 3:25 mark extended the lead to 34–27. The Pioneers responded down the stretch, trimming the deficit to two and heading into halftime trailing just 36–34.

Sacred Heart shot 46.3 percent (25-for-54) from the field and connected on 10 three-pointers in the victory.

Of Note

• Gittens scored the 19 points he needed to reach 1,000 career points and has now scored in double figures in four straight games.
• Ralph-Beyer recorded his fifth consecutive double-figure scoring performance.
• Hill has scored in double figures in six straight games since returning to the lineup.
• Conner posted a season-high five steals.

Up Next
Sacred Heart will be back on the road on Friday, January 30, for a quick trip to Hamden, Conn. To take on Quinnipiac at 7 pm.