Dec. 11, 2011
Box Score
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - After a solid first twenty minutes, Sacred Heart took control of the game in the second half and held off Lafayette for an 84-79 victory at the Pitt Center. Jim Mower led all scorers with 24 points, but it wasn't enough as SHU shot 50 percent from the field in the contest.
The home side jumped out to a 22-14 lead after Louis Montes connected on a three pointer with 8:12 to play in the frame. Trailing by eight, Lafayette (4-6) strung together a 14-2 run over a 4:01 span, making the score 28-24 with three minutes to play before halftime. The spurt was capped by Mower's up and under reverse layup and the Leopards' took a 33-29 lead into the break.
In the second half Sacred Heart (6-6) scored eight of the first 10 points to take a 37-35 lead. At the 15:30 mark Joey Ptasinski sank a triple to put Lafayette back ahead by a point, but Sacred Heart answered with a three of its own, claiming the lead for good. SHU then extended its advantage to 11 points, 71-60, on Phil Gaetano's layup and free throw with 6:13 to play.
Lafayette would not go away, going on a 10-2 spurt in 3:06. Two Ryan Willen field goals, a Nick Petkovich three ball (playing with four fouls) and a Seth Hinrichs corner three pulled Lafayette within three (73-70) at the 3:07 point. SHU scored the next five, but Hinrichs drained another three-pointer, Rob Delaney made a free throw and then pulled up and hit a straightaway three with 1:05 showing to cut the deficit to 78-77.
On the next possession, Shane Gibson took the shot clock down to single digits and knocked down a three from the top of the key, effectively sealing the game. Gibson paced Sacred Heart with 22 points and collected seven rebounds as the Pioneers held a 37-30 advantage on the glass.
Hinrichs netted a new career-high, scoring 17 points while Willen and Delaney chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Lafayette continues its three game road swing when it travels to Vanderbilt on Dec. 21. Opening tip from Nashville, Tenn. is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
