Dec. 2, 2007

Final Stats

W. LONG BRANCH, NJ - Senior guard Drew Shubik (Stoystown, PA) scored 13 points, grabbed eight rounds, had five assists and a pair of steals as the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team overwhelmed Monmouth University 80-53 in the Northeast Conference opener for both teams Sunday afternoon.

Sacred Heart, 2-6, jumped out to a quick 12-0 lead thanks to three-pointers from Chauncey Hardy (Middletown, CT) and Shubik. Whitney Coleman finally got Monmouth on the board with a jumper five minutes into the game. Back-to-back layups from Brice Brooks with 12:00 left extended the advantage to 20-4. A Monmouth three by R.J. Rutledge with 6:03 left in the half gave SHU a 29-11 lead and it was the last points the Hawks would score in the period.

When the teams went to the locker rooms for the intermission, the Pioneers held a 39-11 lead. It was the lowest points the Pioneers had allowed in a half in school history. Monmouth shot just 3-22 in the half (14%), compared to 63 percent for the Pioneers (15-24).

It was more of the same in the second half. SHU scored the first four points of the half to extend the lead to 43-11. Midway through the half, a Hardy dunk gave the Pioneers a 60-30 edge. A Jhmar Youngblood three with 5:30 left got Monmouth the closes they had been since the first half at 68-44.

Junior forward Ryon Howard (Bronx, NY) finished the game with 12 points for the Pioneers, as well as a game-high nine rebounds. Senior Luke Granto (Rocky Hill, CT) also finished in double figures with ten points. SHU shot an impressive 59 percent from the field in the game (27-46) and 89 percent from the line (16-18).

Momnouth, 2-5 and 0-1), was led by Coleman with 13 points and 12 from Youngblood. The Hawks shot just 33 percent from the field (17-51).

The Pioneers return to action on Thursday night at Central Connecticut State University.