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Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University Pioneers
Nyle Ralph-Beyer
Josh Gee

Men’s Basketball Makes Quick Trip to Quinnipiac on Friday

Pioneers look to extend four-game win streak

1/29/2026 4:01:00 PM

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Winners of four straight, the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team continues Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play with a quick in-state road trip to Quinnipiac on Friday, January 30, at 7 p.m.

LIVE STATS | ESPN+ | GAME NOTES

OPENING TIP
  • Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac meet for the second time this season and the 71st time overall in a series that dates back to 1965. The Pioneers hold a 42–28 advantage in the all-time series.
  • The Bobcats claimed the first meeting this season, earning a 70–60 victory at the Pitt Center on Jan. 11.
  • Sacred Heart enters the matchup riding a four-game winning streak, beginning with an 86–80 road win at Siena and a 105–85 victory at Rider, followed by home wins over Canisius (69–66) and a thrilling 71–70 comeback victory against Niagara.
  • Three Pioneers scored in double figures in the win over Niagara, led by Dashon Gittens and Anquan Hill with 19 points apiece, and Nyle Ralph-Beyer with 14. Gittens also reached the 1,000-point milestone for his career in the victory.
  • Gittens ranks seventh in the MAAC in scoring at 14.9 points per game, while Ralph-Beyer sits 13th at 13.5. Sacred Heart ranks third in the conference in scoring offense (75.5 ppg) and leads the MAAC in three-pointers made per game (10.9).
  • Four Pioneers are averaging double figures this season: Hill (16.8 ppg), Gittens (14.9 ppg), Ralph-Beyer (13.5 ppg), and Yann Farell (11.1 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 transfers Gittens and Farell, along with four first-year players. Now in its second season in the MAAC, Sacred Heart is coming off a strong league 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, Farell, and Abdou Yadd.
  • SHU is celebrating its 60th season of men's basketball.
  • Head coach Anthony Latina is in his 13th season at the helm.
SCOUTING QUINNIPIAC
  • Quinnipiac is 7–4 in conference play and currently sits in a two-way tie for fourth place in the MAAC standings. The Bobcats defeated SHU earlier this season, 70–60.
  • Five Bobcats are averaging double figures, led by Jaden Zimmerman (16.5 ppg), Amarri Monroe (15.1), Asim Jones (13.0), Randall Grant (11.5), and Keith McKnight (11.0).
  • Monroe leads the team on the glass, averaging 7.8 rebounds per game.
  • Quinnipiac ranks first in the MAAC in scoring offense at 77.1 points per game.
LAST TIME OUT
  • Trailing 70–57 with less than four minutes remaining, Sacred Heart erupted for a decisive 14–0 run to secure a dramatic 71–70 MAAC victory over Niagara on Saturday afternoon.
  • The comeback was capped by a thrilling game-winning sequence in the final seconds, as Gittens found Hill cutting to the basket. Hill finished through contact, drew the foul, and calmly converted the free throw to complete the three-point play and seal the win.
  • Gittens and Hill led the Pioneers with 19 points apiece, as Gittens reached the 1,000-point milestone for his career in the process.
  • Sacred Heart erased a 13-point deficit and held Niagara scoreless over the final four minutes to earn its fourth consecutive victory.
INSIDE THE RANKINGS
  • Sacred Heart's offense ranks fourth in the MAAC at 75.5 points per game. The Pioneers lead the conference with 239 made three-pointers, averaging 10.9 per game, which ranks 17th nationally. SHU is 21st in the country in three-point attempts per game (29.9), while its 76.65 free-throw percentage ranks 40th nationally.
  • Individually, Gittens ranks seventh in the MAAC in scoring at 14.9 points per game, while Ralph-Beyer sits 13th at 13.5. Gittens also owns the seventh-best field-goal percentage in the conference at 52.9%.
  • From beyond the arc, Ralph-Beyer (.452),  Farell (.431), and Gittens (.410) rank third, fifth, and seventh, respectively, in the MAAC. Ralph-Beyer's three-point percentage ranks seventh nationally.
  • Conner leads the conference in assists at 6.3 per game, ranking 24th nationally, and owns the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the MAAC at 2.6. His 138 total assists rank eighth in the country.
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