WORCESTER, Mass.— Junior Tanner Thomas scored a game-high 21 points, and graduate Alex Sobel recorded a double-double to lead the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team to an 84-77 victory over Holy Cross, on the road on Tuesday evening.

Sacred Heart had four players score in double figures for the third straight game. Sobel tallied his second double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds, and McGee scored in double figures for the first time for SHU.

Records:
SHU: 2-1
Holy Cross: 1-2

Leaders:
Tanner Thomas: 21 points
Alex Sobel: 15 points, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks
Kyle McGee: 11 points, 4 assists
Joey Reilly: 10 points

Of Note:
With the score tied three times and trailing by no more than three points through the opening 10 minutes of the first half, a layup at 7:53 by Sobel would spark a shift for the Pioneers, tying the game 22-22. A layup by Reilly sparked a 9-0 run to give SHU a 10-point lead, 35-25. With under a minute left in the first half, the Crusaders cut their deficit to six, but Thomas and Nico Galette combined for the final four SHU points as the Pioneers held a 39-31 advantage at halftime.

Sacred Heart led by as many as eight points through the start of the second half, but a three-pointer by the Crusaders would bring Holy Cross within two, 55-52, at 10:52. From there, Holy Cross continued to chip away at the Pioneers lead.

Sacred Heart battled back though as Thomas and Reilly combined for eight points in two minutes to give the Pioneers their largest lead of the game, 71-59, with 4:51 left. Holy Cross scored five straight to pull within five with 1:34 left, but Sobel brought it in for a layup with 1:03 to go up by seven, 77-70. The Pioneers made seven free throws in the final minute as SHU took the 84-77 final. 

Up Next: Sacred Heart will travel to UMBC on Friday, November 17 at 11:00 AM, followed by Loyola at UMBC on Saturday, November 18, also at 11:00 AM.