Sacred Heart Pioneers Defeat Rider Broncs 86-75 Behind Anquan Hill's 21 Points

The Sacred Heart Pioneers dominated the first half, outscoring the Rider Broncs 49-30, and while Rider made a strong push in the second half, Sacred Heart held on for an 86-75 win. Anquan Hill led the way for Sacred Heart, scoring 21 points and grabbing 9 rebounds, including 7 points in the first 10 minutes of the game. Rider's Zion Cruz tried to keep his team in it, scoring 22 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the early deficit. Sacred Heart shot 53% from the field in the first half, including 5-10 from three, while Rider struggled to find their rhythm, shooting just 36% from the field. The Pioneers' strong first half was a continuation of their recent trend, as they have averaged 77.8 points per game over their last 5 contests, including a 98-91 win over Quinnipiac.

As the game wore on, Rider began to find their footing, outscoring Sacred Heart 45-37 in the second half. Flash Burton scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half, and Davis Bynum added 8 points and 4 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 19-point deficit they faced at halftime. Sacred Heart's Jaden Slaughter chipped in with 12 points and 7 rebounds, including 4 points in the final 5 minutes of the game to help seal the win. The Pioneers' ability to hold off Rider's second-half surge was a reflection of their improved defense, which has allowed an average of 81.8 points per game over their last 5 contests. With the win, Sacred Heart improved to 12-16 on the season, while Rider fell to 3-22.

Anquan Hill's performance was crucial for Sacred Heart, as he hit several big shots in the first half to help his team build their lead. He also did a great job on the glass, grabbing 9 rebounds, including 3 on the offensive end. Nyle Ralph-Beyer added 15 points for Sacred Heart, including 3-5 from three, and was a key contributor off the bench. For Rider, Zion Cruz was the lone bright spot, scoring 22 points and grabbing 6 rebounds, but he didn't get much help from his teammates. Flash Burton's 21 points were a welcome addition, but he shot just 7-18 from the field, including 2-7 from three. Davis Bynum's 10 points and 5 rebounds were a nice contribution, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.

The CHD Scout prediction of a 19.2-point Sacred Heart win was close, but the actual margin of 11 points was a bit closer than expected.

The prediction was correct, but the margin was a bit off, and that was due to Rider's strong second-half push. Sacred Heart's defense was solid, but not spectacular, allowing 45 points in the second half, and it was their offense that really carried them to the win. The Pioneers shot 49% from the field for the game, including 7-20 from three, and their ability to score from both inside and outside was too much for Rider to handle. Rider's recent trend of being outscored by an average of 13.4 points per game over their last 5 contests continued, and it's clear that they have a lot of work to do to turn their season around.

As the season wears on, it's becoming clear that Sacred Heart is a team to watch, at least in the context of their conference. They have now won 2 of their last 5 games, and their offense is starting to click. With a quad 4 win over Rider, they may not have improved their tournament chances, but they have certainly helped their resume. Rider, on the other hand, is struggling to find any consistency, and their 1-4 record over their last 5 games is a reflection of that. They have been outscored by an average of 13.4 points per game over that stretch, and it's clear that they need to find a way to turn things around quickly.

The win for Sacred Heart doesn't necessarily improve their tournament chances, but it does help their resume. With a quad 4 win, they have now improved their record to 12-16, and their NET ranking of 294 is still a long way from tournament consideration. However, if they can continue to win games like this, they may be able to play their way into a higher seed in their conference tournament. For Rider, the loss is just another in a long line of disappointing results. With a quad 4 loss, they have now fallen to 3-22, and their NET ranking of 357 is one of the worst in the country. It's clear that they have a lot of work to do to turn their season around, and it's starting to look like it may be too late.

The trend data for both teams is telling, as Sacred Heart has averaged 77.8 points per game over their last 5 contests, while Rider has averaged just 65 points per game over that same stretch. Sacred Heart's ability to score has been a key factor in their recent success, and it's something that they must continue to do if they want to make a push in their conference. Rider, on the other hand, needs to find a way to stop their opponents from scoring, as they have allowed an average of 78.4 points per game over their last 5 contests. With just a few games left in the season, it's clear that both teams have a lot of work to do if they want to achieve their goals.

In the end, the win for Sacred Heart was a much-needed one, as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. With a strong performance from Anquan Hill and a solid team effort, they were able to overcome a strong second-half push from Rider and come away with the 86-75 win. As they look to the future, it's clear that they have the potential to be a factor in their conference, but they must continue to play well if they want to make a deep run. For Rider, the loss is just another disappointment in a long season, and it's clear that they have a lot of work to do to turn things around.

HEADLINE: Sacred Heart Pioneers Defeat Rider Broncs 86-75 Behind Anquan Hill's 21 Points SUBHEADLINE: The win improves Sacred Heart's record to 12-16, while Rider falls to 3-22, and it's clear that the Pioneers are the better team, with a 12-point average margin of victory over their last 5 games.