FAIRFIELD, Conn. – With a win over Stonehill on Thursday evening, the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team has clinched third place in the Northeast Conference Tournament standings. The Pioneers have one game left of the regular season on Saturday, March 2, at 2:00 pm against Merrimack in the William H. Pitt Center. Admission is free for all.
 
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RECORDS: 
SHU: 15-15, 9-6 NEC
Merrimack: 19-10, 13-2 NEC
 
LAST TIME OUT:

• Aidan Carpenter scored 17 points, leading six Pioneers in double figures as Sacred Heart won 79-51 on the road at Stonehill to clinch the third seed in the NEC postseason tournament. 
• Nico Galette recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. 
• Alex Sobel had his fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. 
• Joey Reilly shot 6-for-8 from the field and 2-for-3 from three-point range for his 14 points. 
• Sacred Heart held the Skyhawks to 21 points in the first half, the second-fewest points they've allowed in a first half this season, and the lowest points SHU has allowed in a half in NEC play. 
• Sacred Heart shot 53.3% (32-60) from the field and 55% (11-20) from three-point range.
• The Pioneers outrebounded Stonehill 41-38. 

OPENING TIP:

• Sacred Heart and Merrimack conclude NEC regular season play on Saturday. The Pioneers have clinched the third seed in the NEC Tournament, while the Warriors have claimed at least a share of the NEC regular season title, sitting in first place. 
• SHU and Merrimack meet for the 35th time overall, dating back to 1967. Sacred Heart owns a 21-13 advantage in the all-time series. 
• SHU is coming off a 79-51 road victory at Stonehill on Thursday. Six players scored in double figures. Alex Sobel and Nico Galette tallied double-doubles. 
• Three active Pioneers are averaging in double figures: Nico Galette (13.4), Sobel (11.9), and Reilly (11.7). Galette leads the team in rebounds (7.2), and Sobel is second with 7.1 rpg. 
• Sobel is fifth in the nation in blocks with 81 (as of 3/1) and is sixth in blocks per game with 2.79.
• With the third seed locked in for SHU, the Pioneers earned their best seeding in the NEC Tournament since also taking the third seed in the 2020-21 season.
• SHU has four active 1,000-point scorers which is tied for the third most in the NCAA.  
• Reilly, Galette, and Tanner Thomas have brought in NEC Player of the Week awards for the Pioneers this season. Sobel has been a Prime Performer four times. 
• Galette, Reilly, and Kyle McGee were voted captains for 2023-24.