BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Senior Aaron Clarke posted his first career double-double, and Nico Galette erupted for a career-best 20 points, but it wasn't enough as the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team was unable to come back from a double-digit halftime deficit. The Pioneers fell, 79-75, on Thursday night. 
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 7-14, 3-7
LIU: 9-12, 6-5
 
Top Performers:
Nico Galette: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Aaron Clarke: 14 points, 10 assists
Tyler Thomas: 13 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Cantavio Dutreil: 12 points, 9 rebounds
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers remain in the Big Apple to meet with St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
Of Note:
Sacred Heart's three-point shooting kept the team alive in the first half as 18 of its 33 first-half points came from behind the arc (6-13). After a three from Galette pulled SHU within six points at the 5:31 mark, the Sharks responded with a 10-2 run to grab a 15-point lead. LIU held on to its double-digit lead to close out the half, 43-33. 
 
The Pioneers looked like a different team to start the second half as Galette poured in eight unanswered points right out of the gate to make it a two-point game. With just under six minutes remaining, Sacred Heart took its first lead of the game thanks to a layup from Cantavio Dutreil, but the lead was short-lived when the Sharks scored 10-straight to regain the advantage. The Pioneers would get as close as two points with 12 seconds left until the final buzzer, but LIU hit two final free throws before the clock ran out. 
 
Galette's 20-point performance was a career-best as he also netted a career-high four three-pointers. The sophomore was four-of-five from behind the arc and eight-of-13 from the field. Along the way, Galette grabbed five rebounds, two assists and two steals. 
 
Thanks to a career-high 10 assists, Clarke recorded his first career double-double as he added 14 points.