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The Sacred Heart University men's basketball team hits the road for a pair of away contests. The Pioneers make their first stop at Mount St. Mary's on Friday at 7 p.m. on NEC Front Row.

OPENING TIP

• The Pioneers meet with the defending NEC Champions after splitting with the Mountaineers a year ago in Emmitsburg. Sacred Heart took the first meeting, 61-58, before falling, 76-64, in the game two of the back-to-back series. 
• The Mountaineers' are without their leading scorer from a year ago, Damien Chong Qui, who was a primary factor in the series last season. The Pioneers held Chong Qui to just nine points to defeat the Mount, but the First Team All-NEC selection poured in 22 points in game two of the series. Chong Qui transferred to Purdue Fort Wayne. 
• Both teams are coming off seven-point wins as they enter Friday's matchup. Sacred Heart downed Central Connecticut, 74-67, while Mount St. Mary's defeated Merrimack, 57-50. 
• The Pioneers are 5-11 when playing at Knott Arena and 10-20 all-time against the Mountaineers.

CRASHING THE BOARDS
Sacred Heart posts top rebounding marks led by Nico Galette who is the conference leader in total rebounds (152) and rebounds per game (8.9). The duo of Cantavio and Dutreil and Galette are also the more dangerous in the league on the offensive glass. Galette is first in the NEC in offensive rebounds per game (2.71) while Dutreil trails in second (2.60). Rebounding has shown a direct impact on the team's outcome as they are 0-6 when outrebounded by their opponent. As a team, the Pioneers are second in the NEC with in total rebounds (643) and third in rebounds per game (37.82).

TYLER T, MVP?
Tyler Thomas does not shy away from getting shots up as he was once the national leader in field goal attempts. Now Thomas sits at sixth with 285 attempts and 13th nationally with 127 field goals made. Most recently against CCSU, Thomas netted 18 points in the first half alone before finishing with 21. Since the start of the NEC play, Thomas posts 18.75 ppg including back-to-back 20-point performances against FDU (24) and CCSU (21). At Bryant, Thomas dished out a career-high seven assists. Thomas has only posted one single-digit scoring game all year when he was held to nine at Stony Brook.