FAIRFIELD, Conn.— Tanner Thomas scored a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double, leading the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team to its fourth straight victory, taking down Rider, 89-77, on Thursday evening in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action in the Pitt Center. Five players scored in double figures in the Pioneers victory. 

Both Thomas (7-14) and Anquan Hill (5-10) were 50% from the field, and SHU shot 41.4% (12-29) from three-point range. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 10-12, (6-5 MAAC)
Rider: 8-15, (4-8 MAAC)

Leaders:
Tanner Thomas: 20 points, 10 rebounds
Anquan Hill: 15 points, 6 rebounds
Amiri Stewart: 13 points, 3 rebounds
Mekhi Conner: 12 points, 7 assists
Griffin Barrouk: 11 points, 5 rebounds 

Of Note:
Rider scored the first two points, and it would be the only time they had a lead throughout the game. The Pios answered with 13 straight during the opening four minutes of play, including six points from Griffin Barrouk. 

SHU held a double-digit lead until Rider scored five straight to pull within six, 20-14, at 12:28. Bryce Johnson knocked down a pair of free throws, and Nyle Ralph-Beyer made a layup as SHU took back a double-figure advantage. 

Sacred Heart led by as many as 11 in the opening frame, and Rider pulled within six three times, including the final 30 seconds in the half. However, a Thomas layup pushed the Pios ahead by eight for the 44-36 halftime score. 

Rider hit a three-pointer to open the second half and cut its deficit to five, but Mekhi Conner and Thomas combined for five straight points to put SHU back ahead by 10. 

Conner and Ralph-Beyer hit back-to-back triples to give Sacred Heart a 15-point advantage at 14:57 in the second half. A layup for Rider at 9:13 sparked a 6-0 run for the visitors to pull within five, but the Pioneers answered to jump back to a double-digit lead. 

A dunk for Hill at 2:53 gave SHU its largest lead of the day at 16. A Broncs triple cut their deficit to 10, but Fallou Gueye made a pair of free throws to secure the 89-77 final. 

The Pioneers shot 46% (29-63) from the field and outrebounded Rider 38-32. 

Up Next: 
Sacred Heart will make the short trip across town to take on Fairfield on Saturday, February 8 at 7:00 pm.