Sunday, February 15
Fairfield, Conn.
2:00 PM
Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics
vs
Rider University
Photo by: Josh Gee
Men's Basketball Hosts Rider on Sunday to Wrap Up Weekend in the Pitt Center
2/14/2026 6:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Fresh off a thrilling 81-78 win at Saint Peter's on Friday, the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team returns to the Pitt Center on Sunday, Feb. 15, for a 2:00 p.m. Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) matchup against Rider.
LIVE STATS | ESPN+ | GAME NOTES
OPENING TIP
LIVE STATS | ESPN+ | GAME NOTES
OPENING TIP
- Sacred Heart and Rider close out the season series Sunday afternoon at the Pitt Center. The matchup marks the fifth meeting between the programs, with the all-time series tied at 2-2. The Pioneers defeated the Broncs earlier this season, 105-85.
- Sacred Heart is coming off a key MAAC victory over Saint Peter's on Friday night. Anquan Hill scored 20 points to lead four Pioneers in double figures as SHU topped the Peacocks, 78-71, at home. Nyle Ralph-Beyer added 19 points, while Jaden Slaughter (13) and Dashon Gittens (11) also reached double figures.
- Hill leads the MAAC in scoring at 17.8 ppg. Gittens ranks 12th in the conference at 14.2 ppg, while Ralph-Beyer sits 15th at 13.6 ppg. Sacred Heart ranks second in the MAAC in scoring offense (75.9 ppg) and leads the league in three-pointers made per game (10.7) and three-point percentage (36.5%
- Four Pioneers are averaging double figures this season: Hill (17.8 ppg), Gittens (14.2 ppg), Ralph-Beyer (13.6 ppg), and Yann Farell (11.7 ppg).
- Sacred Heart was selected third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll and led the league with three preseason All-MAAC selections: Hill – First Team, Mekhi Conner – Second Team, 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, Yann 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.
- Rider currently has a 2-13 record in the MAAC with its two league wins were against Iona 72-68 and Saint Peter's, 81-78. The Broncs are coming off a 65-55 home loss to Mount St. Mary's on Friday.
- Flash Burton (14.3) and Zion Cruz (13.0) are averaging double figures.
- Caleb Smith is the team leader in rebounds at 7.1.
- Rider was selected 10th in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll and Cruz was named to the Preseason All-MAAC third team.
- Hill scored 20 points to lead four players in double figures as Sacred Heart defeated Saint Peter's, 78-71, on Friday evening at the Pitt Center.
- Gittens scored the first seven points of the game for the Pioneers in the opening minutes. After Sacred Heart grabbed a 7-4 lead, Saint Peter's responded with a three-pointer and a layup to go ahead 9-7, in what would be its only lead of the game. Farell answered with a three to reclaim the lead and spark an 8-2 run.
- The Peacocks pulled within three, but five straight points from Yadd extended the advantage to 23-17. Saint Peter's trimmed the deficit to four with 9:34 remaining in the half, before Yadd and Ralph-Beyer knocked down back-to-back jumpers to push the lead to 28-19.
- Sacred Heart stretched its advantage to double digits at the 7:33 mark and maintained control for much of the half. A late Saint Peter's layup cut the margin to five, 38-33, but Ralph-Beyer buried a step-back jumper in the closing seconds to give the Pioneers a 40-33 halftime lead.
- Saint Peter's chipped away early in the second half, pulling within five multiple times. After the Peacocks cut it to five at 12:38, Gittens and Yadd converted on consecutive possessions to extend the lead to 53-44.
- With under eight minutes to play, Saint Peter's trimmed the deficit to two, but Gittens and Slaughter responded to push the margin back to six. The Peacocks refused to go away, scoring five straight points to make it 64-63 with 4:03 remaining.
- Sacred Heart delivered in the closing minutes. A timely three-pointer from Farell at the 1:43 mark extended the lead to 71-65. Saint Peter's could get no closer than five the rest of the way as Slaughter and Ralph-Beyer converted from the free-throw line to secure the 78-71 victory.
- The Pioneers shot 47.8% (22-for-46) from the field and matched that percentage from three-point range (11-for-23).
- Sacred Heart's offense is second in the MAAC at 75.9 points per game. The Pioneers lead the conference with 289 made three-pointers, averaging 10.7 per game, 19th nationally, and is the leader in 3PT FG% at .365. SHU's 77.3% free throw percentage is 21st in the country.
- Hill is first in the MAAC in scoring at 17.8 ppg, Gittens is 12th at 14.2 ppg, and Ralph-Beyer is 15th in scoring at 13.6 points per game. Gittens owns the eighth-best field-goal percentage in the conference at 53.0%. Ralph-Beyer (.429), Gittens (.426), and Farell (.421), are fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively, in the MAAC in three-point percentage. Ralph-Beyer's 3PT FG percentage is 17th in the country.
- Conner is first in the conference with 6.3 assists per game, which is 18th nationally, and he holds the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the MAAC at 2.7. His 165 assists rank 13th in the country.
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