BUFFALO, N.Y.—First-year Mekhi Conner recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 16 assists as the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team defeated Canisius 93-84 on the road in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action on Thursday evening. Six Pioneers scored in double figures in the victory. 

Conner is the first Pioneer to tally a double-double in assists and points since Cameron Parker did so on January 12, 2019. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 7-12, (3-5 MAAC)
Canisius: 2-17, (2-6 MAAC)

Leaders:
Tanner Thomas: 18 points, 6 rebounds 
Amiri Stewart: 16 points, 5 assists 
Bryce Johnson: 15 points, 7 assists 
Anquan Hill: 13 points, 6 rebounds
Nyle Ralph-Beyer: 12 points, 3 rebounds
Mekhi Conner: 10 points, 16 assists 

Of Note:
Sacred Heart had strong three-point shooting, as they came out firing, going 10-for-18 from behind the arc in just the opening half. A pair of triples from Anquan Hill and Amiri Stewart put SHU ahead 11-5 at 16:40. After a 13-13 tie, Hill and Conner added five points to take an 18-13 advantage. 

Canisius pulled within three, but Hill and Tanner Thomas answered with a pair of triples to extend the Pios lead, 27-18. The Golden Griffs added a three-pointer of their own, but Bryce Johnson scored four straight points to give SHU a 10-point edge, 31-21 at 8:46. 

Nyle Ralph-Beyer made two free throws and hit a trey to give Sacred Heart its largest lead of the day, 47-34, at 2:37 in the opening half. Canisius pulled within six in the final minute of play, but Conner's jumper secured the 49-41 halftime score.  

Thomas opened the second half with a layup, as SHU went ahead by 10, but Canisius went on a 7-0 run to pull within three, 51-48. 

At 14:27 in the second half, Canisius cut the deficit to two, but Sacred Heart answered and jumped back to take a seven-point edge. The Golden Griffs chipped away at their deficit for the following nine minutes but could only pull within three. At 5:55, they were able to tie it but Sacred Heart answered with an 11-2 run, including five points from Griffin Barrouk, to take an 88-79 lead. 

With 45 seconds left to play, Stewart had a successful alley-oop to jump ahead by 11, but Canisius answered with a triple to cut their deficit to eight. Stewart made one free throw to secure the 93-84 final.

The Pios shot 52.5% (31-59) from the field and 50% (15-30) from the three-point range. The 15 three-pointers are the most they've had in a game this season. Stewart was 75% (6-for-8) from the field and went 2-for-3 from three. Thomas shot 60% from the field (6-10) and 3-for-4 from downtown; Hill and Johnson both went 5-for-6 from the field, while Hill was 3-for-4 from behind the arc. 

Up Next: 
Sacred Heart will wrap up its Western New York trip with Niagara on Saturday, January 25 at 2:00 pm.