Iona Gaels Defeat Sacred Heart Pioneers 81-69
Sunday, December 7, 2025, 2:00 PM ET · William H. Pitt Center
Iona Gaels 81, Sacred Heart Pioneers 69, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Iona Gaels vs Sacred Heart Pioneers?
Iona Gaels beat Sacred Heart Pioneers 81-69 at William H. Pitt Center on December 7, 2025.
Who was favored in Iona Gaels vs Sacred Heart Pioneers?
Sacred Heart Pioneers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -118 (about 54% implied). The underdog won.
In a decisive matchup, the Iona Gaels secured a convincing 81-69 victory over the Sacred Heart Pioneers at the William H. Pitt Center. This game was significant as it showcased the contrasting fortunes of both teams this season, with Iona improving their record to 8-3 while Sacred Heart fell to 3-7. The Gaels entered the game with a strong away record of 4-1, indicating their capability to perform outside their home court, while the Pioneers struggled with a 1-6 record in away games prior to this matchup.
Iona's recent form had been solid, with a record of 6-4 over their last ten games, despite a recent loss to Quinnipiac. Their scoring average stood at 79.8 points per game, while they allowed 78.2 points, reflecting a competitive style of play. In contrast, Sacred Heart's last ten games yielded a record of 4-6, with an average of 77.1 points scored but a higher average of 78.1 points allowed. This trend of conceding more points than they scored has been a recurring issue for the Pioneers, particularly evident in their recent games where they allowed opponents to score heavily.
The matchup was marked by notable performances from both sides. The Gaels, who had previously faced Sacred Heart twice in the current season, had a split record against them, winning 83-59 at home earlier in December and losing 90-88 on the road in March. This fixture was expected to be competitive, especially given the Pioneers' home advantage, where they boasted a perfect home record of 3-0 prior to this game.
In terms of player availability, the game unfolded without significant injuries impacting either team, allowing both coaches to field their preferred lineups. The betting lines from DraftKings reflected a close contest, with Sacred Heart favored by 1.5 points, indicating expectations of a tightly contested game. The total points line was set at 163.5, suggesting that both teams were anticipated to engage in a high-scoring affair.
As the game progressed, Iona's ability to execute under pressure became evident. The Gaels built a substantial lead, which they maintained through effective free-throw shooting and solid defensive plays. Key moments included Lamin Sabally's layup assisted by Denver Anglin, which pushed the score to 77-66 in favor of Iona during the second half. The Gaels capitalized on their opportunities at the free-throw line, with Nyle Ralph-Beyer and CJ Anthony contributing crucial points in the closing minutes.
The conditions within the William H. Pitt Center were conducive to an exciting game, with fans supporting their home team, but the Pioneers could not overcome the Gaels' offensive prowess. Iona's victory not only reflects their current form but also highlights the challenges Sacred Heart faces as they continue to seek consistency in their performance. The Pioneers will need to address their defensive lapses and find ways to score more effectively if they hope to improve their standing in the league.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | SHU -1.5 | 163.5 o -108 / u -112 | Iona Gaels -102 · Sacred Heart Pioneers -118 |
Leaders
- PointsYann Farell16Sacred Heart Pioneers
- AssistsMekhi Conner9Sacred Heart Pioneers
- ReboundsAnquan Hill8Sacred Heart Pioneers
- PointsCJ Anthony15Iona Gaels
- AssistsCJ Anthony8Iona Gaels
- ReboundsLamin Sabally6Iona Gaels
Recent form
Sacred Heart Pioneers
Last 10: 4-6Streak W177.1 scored · 78.1 allowed per game3-0 at home
- W87-80at Mount St. Mary's MountaineersDec 4
- L59-90at Penn State Nittany LionsNov 29
- L106-108at Central Connecticut Blue DevilsNov 25
- W79-66vs Holy Cross CrusadersNov 22
- L64-81at Queens University RoyalsNov 15
- L60-94at Villanova WildcatsNov 12
- L80-92at Duquesne DukesNov 8
- W103-46vs Merchant Marine MarinersNov 5
- L62-66at Merrimack WarriorsMar 13
- W71-58vs Fairfield StagsMar 12
Iona Gaels
Last 10: 6-4Streak L179.8 scored · 78.2 allowed per game3-1 away
- L68-89vs Quinnipiac BobcatsDec 6
- W89-66at Delaware Blue HensDec 2
- L75-80vs Green Bay PhoenixNov 24
- W91-84at Oregon State BeaversNov 22
- L75-96at Akron ZipsNov 21
- W89-69vs Princeton TigersNov 19
- W76-71vs Fordham RamsNov 15
- W105-91at Kansas City RoosNov 11
- W81-73vs Hofstra PrideNov 8
- L49-63vs Mount St. Mary's MountaineersMar 15
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimack | 23-11 | - | 17-3 |
| Saint Peter's | 17-12 | 3 | 14-6 |
| Siena | 23-12 | 4 | 13-7 |
| Marist | 19-12 | 5 | 12-8 |
| Quinnipiac | 19-13 | 5 | 12-8 |
| Fairfield | 21-13 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Mount St. Mary's | 15-17 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Iona | 18-14 | 7 | 10-10 |
| Sacred Heart | 14-19 | 8 | 9-11 |
| Manhattan | 12-20 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Canisius | 10-21 | 12 | 5-15 |
| Niagara | 8-22 | 12 | 5-15 |
| Rider | 4-25 | 14 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Iona Gaels | Sacred Heart Pioneers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 28-61 | 23-56 |
| Field goal % | 46 | 41 |
| Three-pointers | 10-31 | 13-35 |
| Three-point % | 32 | 37 |
| Free throws | 15-18 | 10-14 |
| Free throw % | 83 | 71 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 35 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 24 |
| Assists | 17 | 17 |
| Steals | 11 | 4 |
| Blocks | 0 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 20 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 18 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 13 | 14 |
| Points in the paint | 30 | 18 |
| Fouls | 13 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 13 | 9 |
| Lead changes | 5 | 5 |
| Time in front | 75 | 19 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half42-36Keshawn Williams made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half42-38Nyle Ralph-Beyer made Layup. Assisted by Yann Farell.
- 2nd Half45-38Keshawn Williams made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Lamin Sabally.
- 2nd Half47-38Keshawn Williams made Jumper.
- 2nd Half49-38CJ Anthony made Layup.
- 2nd Half51-38Lamin Sabally made Layup. Assisted by CJ Anthony.
- 2nd Half51-40Anquan Hill made Layup. Assisted by Mekhi Conner.
- 2nd Half51-41Anquan Hill made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half54-41Denver Anglin made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by CJ Anthony.
- 2nd Half54-44Dashon Gittens made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Anquan Hill.
- 2nd Half56-44Khalil Badru made Jumper.
- 2nd Half56-47Yann Farell made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Jaden Slaughter.
- 2nd Half56-49Abdou Yadd made Layup.
- 2nd Half56-50Abdou Yadd made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half59-50Chase Cormier made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by CJ Anthony.
- 2nd Half59-52Abdou Yadd made Layup.
- 2nd Half59-55Nyle Ralph-Beyer made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Dashon Gittens.
- 2nd Half60-55Luke Jungers made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half61-55Luke Jungers made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half62-55Luke Jungers made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half64-55Matt Reed made Layup.
- 2nd Half64-58Nyle Ralph-Beyer made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Mekhi Conner.
- 2nd Half65-58CJ Anthony made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half66-58CJ Anthony made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half68-58Lamin Sabally made Dunk.
- 2nd Half69-58Lamin Sabally made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half70-58Lamin Sabally made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half70-60Dashon Gittens made Layup. Assisted by Mekhi Conner.
- 2nd Half70-63Anquan Hill made Three Point Jumper.
- 2nd Half72-63Denver Anglin made Layup.
- 2nd Half75-63Toby Harris made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Denver Anglin.
- 2nd Half75-66Dashon Gittens made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Mekhi Conner.
- 2nd Half77-66Lamin Sabally made Layup. Assisted by Denver Anglin.
- 2nd Half77-67Nyle Ralph-Beyer made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half77-68Nyle Ralph-Beyer made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half78-68CJ Anthony made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half79-68CJ Anthony made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half79-69Dashon Gittens made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half80-69Denver Anglin made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half81-69Lamin Sabally made Free Throw.
Win probability
Above the line favours Sacred Heart Pioneers, below favours Iona Gaels.
Venue
- William H. Pitt CenterFairfield, CT
- Attendance822
- OfficialsTony Henderson, John Cahill Jr., Ed Corbett Jr.
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