BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Sacred Heart University men's basketball team will conclude its Western New York road trip on Sunday, Jan. 4, taking on Canisius at noon inside the Koessler Athletic Center.

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OPENING TIP

• Sacred Heart and Canisius meet for just the third time in series history on Sunday. The Pioneers hold a 2–0 advantage after sweeping the Golden Griffs during the 2024–25 season.
• Sacred Heart enters the matchup following a narrow 64–61 MAAC loss at Niagara on Friday night
• Canisius earned its first conference victory of the season on Friday, defeating Fairfield, 85–81, at home.
• Dashon Gittens led three Pioneers in double figures with 18 points, including 16 in the second half at Niagara. Yann Farell and Fallou Gueye each added 10 points.
• Gittens ranks seventh in the MAAC in scoring, while Nyle Ralph-Beyer sits 13th.
• Sacred Heart ranks fifth in the MAAC in scoring offense (75.6 ppg) and leads the conference in three-pointers made per game (10.9).
• Four Pioneers are averaging double figures this season: Gittens (15.2 ppg), Anquan Hill (14.9 ppg), Ralph-Beyer (13.4 ppg), and Farell (10.3).
• SHU 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).
• Sacred Heart returns nine players from last year's roster and welcomes two transfers (Gittens and Farell) along with four first-year players.
• The Pioneers are in their second season in the MAAC after a strong debut campaign that included a seventh-place finish and a conference tournament win over Fairfield to advance to the quarterfinals.
• Sacred Heart features three student-athletes from Africa:  Gueye, Farell, and Abdou Yadd.
• The program is celebrating its 60th season of men's basketball.
• Head coach Anthony Latina is in his 13th season at the helm.

SCOUTING CANISIUS   

• Canisius enters the game 1–2 in MAAC play, with losses to Siena and Saint Peter's and a win over Fairfield.
• Kahlil Singleton (13.2 ppg) and Bryan Ndjonga (11.1 ppg) lead the Golden Griffs in scoring.
• Mike Evbagharu leads the team on the glass, averaging 6.4 rebounds per game.
• Canisius was selected 13th in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 

LAST TIME OUT

• Sacred Heart dropped a 64–61 decision at Niagara on Friday evening.
• Dashon Gittens led three Pioneers in double figures with 18 points, including 16 in the second half. Yann Farell and Fallou Gueye each added 10 points.
• SHU closed the game on a 14–0 run, tying the score at 61–61 with 9.7 seconds remaining before Niagara hit a last-second three-pointer.
• The Pioneers shot 40.7 percent from the field and knocked down four three-pointers in the second half.

INSIDE THE RANKINGS

• Sacred Heart ranks fifth in the MAAC in scoring offense (74.6 ppg).
• The Pioneers lead the conference with 159 made three-pointers, averaging 10.6 per game, ranking 30th nationally.
• SHU also ranks 17th nationally in three-point attempts per game (30.5).
• Ralph-Beyer (.469) and Farell (.441) rank third and fifth, respectively, in the MAAC in three-point percentage.
• Ralph-Beyer ranks 44th nationally in three-pointers made per game (3.00), and his 46.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc ranks 22nd in the country.
• Mekhi Conner is second in the MAAC in assists per game (5.8), ranks 36th nationally, and owns the fourth-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the conference (2.2). His 87 total assists rank 18th nationally.