FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Yann Farell and Anquan Hill combined for 41 points and the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team carried a first-half lead, but Marist outscored the Pioneers after the break to secure a 76–72 road victory in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action on Friday evening at the Pitt Center.

Farell tied his season high with 22 points for the second straight game, while Hill returned to the lineup for the first time since Dec. 13 and added 19 points.

Records
Sacred Heart: 5–12 (1–5 MAAC)
Marist: 10–5 (4–2 MAAC)

Leaders
Yann Farell: 22 points, 9 rebounds
Anquan Hill: 19 points, 4 rebounds

How It Happened
Sacred Heart opened the contest with a 17–4 run through the first seven minutes of play. Marist pulled within seven two minutes later, but a Hill three-pointer pushed the Pioneers back into double figures. The Red Foxes continued to chip away, but SHU responded each time. A Hill layup at the 6:09 mark gave Sacred Heart its largest lead of the night at 32–19.

Marist scored seven straight points to cut the deficit to six, but a Farell triple restored a nine-point cushion. The Red Foxes trimmed the lead to three late in the half, but a Nyle Ralph-Beyer three-pointer as time expired sent Sacred Heart into the break with a 44–38 advantage.

Marist opened the second half by quickly tying the game at 46–46. Neither team led by more than two until the 11:08 mark, when Marist used a 4–0 spurt to take a six-point edge. Hill answered with a layup to cut it to four, but the Red Foxes responded with a run to build a nine-point lead at 63–54 with 7:17 remaining.

Marist led by as many as 11 over the next few minutes. A Ralph-Beyer layup followed by a Farell four-point play pulled the Pioneers within five with 2:31 left. Each time Sacred Heart threatened, Marist had an answer.

After a pair of Red Foxes free throws, Mekhi Conner drilled a three-pointer with 12 seconds left to keep SHU's hopes alive, but Marist closed the game by converting three of its final four free throws to seal the win.

Sacred Heart shot 42.3 percent (22-of-52) from the field and connected on nine three-pointers. The Pioneers' bench contributed 36 points.

Of Note

• Hill scored in double figures with 19 points in his first game since Dec. 13.
• Farell matched his season high with 22 points for the second consecutive game and finished one rebound shy of a double-double.

Up Next
Sacred Heart closes out its home weekend on Sunday, January 11, welcoming in-state rival Quinnipiac to the Pitt Center for a 2 p.m. tipoff.