NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — The Sacred Heart Pioneers defeated the NJIT Highlanders 65-49 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Fleisher Athletic Center. Sacred Heart led 28-24 at halftime and extended its advantage in the second half, holding NJIT to just 25 points after intermission. The victory improved Sacred Heart’s record to 4-6, while NJIT fell to 4-8. Ari Fulton led the Highlanders with 11 points and seven rebounds. Mekhi Conner directed the Pioneers’ offense with seven assists in the win. Attendance was announced at 816. Sacred Heart was a pregame favorite and the combined score fell well below the over/under line.

NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and offensive inefficiency, the Sacred Heart Pioneers methodically dispatched the NJIT Highlanders 65-49 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Fleisher Athletic Center. Sacred Heart, which never trailed, improved to 4-6. NJIT dropped to 4-8. The most critical phase of the contest came early, as Sacred Heart established a defensive tone that NJIT could never overcome. The Highlanders opened the game with a scoring drought that spanned nearly three minutes and set a pattern of frigid shooting that persisted for 40 minutes. NJIT finished the game shooting just 28.3% from the floor and 20.7% from three-point range. Their offensive rating of 75.8 points per 100 possessions underscored a afternoon of profound struggle. Sacred Heart was not markedly more efficient, shooting 42.9% overall, but its defense created just enough separation. The Pioneers forced 10 turnovers while committing only eight and held a 32-22 advantage in points in the paint. A key sequence late in the first half effectively sealed the outcome. Leading 21-16, Sacred Heart closed the period on a 7-2 run, capped by a Dashon Gittens layup with 36 seconds remaining, to take a 28-24 lead into halftime. That margin felt substantial given the game’s defensive nature. The Pioneers then opened the second half with decisive action. After an NJIT three-pointer cut the lead to one, Sacred Heart responded with a 9-2 spurt, pushing its advantage to 37-29 and forcing a Highlanders timeout. NJIT would never get closer than six points the rest of the way, as their shooting woes continued. The Highlanders managed only 25 points in the second half. Sacred Heart was led by a double-double from Dashon Gittens. The Hartford, Connecticut, guard played 34 minutes, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to go with three assists and a block. His activity on both ends was pivotal. Nyle Ralph-Beyer of West Chester, Pennsylvania, provided the primary scoring punch with a game-high 21 points, including three three-pointers. Anquan Hill of Philadelphia added 14 points and seven rebounds, while Jaden Slaughter of Buffalo, New York, contributed nine points and eight rebounds. For NJIT, Ari Fulton of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was the lone Highlander in double figures with 11 points and seven rebounds. The team’s offensive difficulties were highlighted by a mere three assists against 10 turnovers, and they managed only six points off Sacred Heart’s eight giveaways. The game drew an announced crowd of 816. Sacred Heart next travels to face Massachusetts-Lowell on Tuesday. NJIT’s next contest is at Butler on Dec. 22. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Sacred Heart had a 65.7% probability to win pregame. The Pioneers covered the spread as 5.5-point favorites. The total score of 114 fell well under the over/under line of 151.5, a direct result of the game’s grinding defensive pace and poor shooting.

Preview: Sacred Heart Pioneers at NJIT Highlanders NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum before the holiday break will meet Saturday when the Sacred Heart Pioneers visit the NJIT Highlanders at Fleisher Athletic Center. Sacred Heart (3-6) enters having lost four of its last five, including an 81-69 home loss to Iona on Dec. 7. The Pioneers’ offense has been inconsistent, scoring 87 points in a win at Mount Saint Mary’s on Dec. 3 but being held under 70 in three of their six losses. NJIT (4-7) snapped a six-game skid with a 70-64 home win over New Haven on Wednesday. Prior to that, the Highlanders endured a challenging stretch against high-major opponents, including lopsided road losses at Louisville and Cincinnati. A key matchup will feature Sacred Heart forward Yann Farell against NJIT’s Ari Fulton. Farell has been a bright spot for the Pioneers, averaging 16.3 points over his last three games and posting 16 points and six rebounds against Iona. Fulton provides a versatile presence for the Highlanders; he scored 13 points with two blocks in the win over New Haven and opened the season with a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double against Fairleigh Dickinson. For Sacred Heart, guard Mekhi Conner, who dished nine assists against Iona, will be crucial in facilitating the offense. NJIT will look for continued production from David Bolden, who had 11 points and five assists off the bench in the team’s last outing. Both teams have struggled defensively. Sacred Heart has allowed 80 or more points in five games, while NJIT has surrendered an average of 84.4 points during its seven losses. This non-conference contest represents a final opportunity for both squads to build confidence before their upcoming schedules. Sacred Heart begins a two-game road trip, while NJIT faces a daunting visit to Butler on Dec. 22. Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon in Newark.