Merrimack Warriors Defeat Sacred Heart Pioneers 80-72
Monday, December 29, 2025, 2:00 PM ET · William H. Pitt Center
Merrimack Warriors 80, Sacred Heart Pioneers 72, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
The next free pick, for your email
Team, bet, price and the hash it was sealed under, on this page the moment you send. Lose or win, it stays public.
or by email
Public record of the main pick, losses included: 115 won, 44 lost. See every pick
One free pick a day by email until you unsubscribe, in one click. 21+.
Quick answers
Who won Merrimack Warriors vs Sacred Heart Pioneers?
Merrimack Warriors beat Sacred Heart Pioneers 80-72 at William H. Pitt Center on December 29, 2025.
Who was favored in Merrimack Warriors vs Sacred Heart Pioneers?
Sacred Heart Pioneers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -125 (about 56% implied). The underdog won.
In an exciting NCAAB matchup, the Merrimack Warriors defeated the Sacred Heart Pioneers 80-72 at the William H. Pitt Center. This victory is significant for Merrimack, as it improves their record to 8-7, while Sacred Heart falls to 5-10. The game showcased both teams' contrasting recent forms, with Merrimack entering the contest with a 6-4 record over their last ten games, while Sacred Heart was 4-6 in the same span.
Merrimack had a solid scoring average of 65.7 points per game over their last ten outings, while allowing 69.0 points. Their recent performance included a notable win against the Princeton Tigers, where they secured a narrow 59-56 victory. However, they also faced a setback against the Vermont Catamounts, losing 59-66 in their most recent game prior to facing Sacred Heart. The Warriors' away record now stands at 4-4, indicating a balanced performance both at home and on the road.
On the other hand, Sacred Heart struggled defensively, averaging 77.7 points allowed over their last ten games, while scoring an average of 74.3 points. Their last five games saw them posting an average of 69.6 points scored and 70.4 points allowed. Sacred Heart's most recent outing was a disappointing 47-72 loss to the Towson Tigers, further highlighting their defensive vulnerabilities. The Pioneers had a home record of 3-6 this season, showing a struggle to capitalize on home advantage.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, Merrimack has had the upper hand in their recent meetings, leading the series 2-1 against Sacred Heart this season. The last encounter before this game saw Sacred Heart narrowly win 60-59 on February 22, 2025. However, Merrimack's victory in this game further solidifies their dominance in this rivalry.
Injury reports indicated that both teams were relatively healthy heading into the game, which allowed them to field their best lineups. The game was played under typical basketball conditions, with no adverse weather affecting the indoor venue.
The betting odds provided by DraftKings indicated a close contest, with Sacred Heart favored by 1.5 points. The total points line was set at 144.5, reflecting the anticipated scoring potential of both teams. As the game unfolded, it became clear that Merrimack was prepared to exploit Sacred Heart's defensive weaknesses.
Key moments in the game included a series of crucial scoring plays in the second half. Notably, Taj Bryant made a driving layup assisted by Mekhi Conner, extending Merrimack's lead to 76-67. Free throws by Kevair Kennedy further solidified their advantage, pushing the score to 80-72. Despite Sacred Heart's efforts to close the gap, they were unable to mount a significant comeback as the game drew to a close.
Overall, this fixture was worth noting due to the implications for both teams moving forward in the season. Merrimack's victory not only improves their standing but also showcases their ability to perform under pressure, while Sacred Heart will need to address their defensive issues if they hope to turn their season around.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | SHU -1.5 | 144.5 o -115 / u -105 | Merrimack Warriors +105 · Sacred Heart Pioneers -125 |
Leaders
- PointsNyle Ralph-Beyer19Sacred Heart Pioneers
- AssistsMekhi Conner9Sacred Heart Pioneers
- ReboundsDashon Gittens11Sacred Heart Pioneers
- PointsErnest Shelton19Merrimack Warriors
- AssistsKevair Kennedy7Merrimack Warriors
- ReboundsKC Ugwuakazi9Merrimack Warriors
Recent form
Sacred Heart Pioneers
Last 10: 4-6Streak L174.3 scored · 77.7 allowed per game2-1 at home
- L47-72at Towson TigersDec 22
- W85-63vs Dartmouth Big GreenDec 19
- L82-87at UMass Lowell River HawksDec 16
- W65-49at NJIT HighlandersDec 13
- L69-81vs Iona GaelsDec 7
- 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
Merrimack Warriors
Last 10: 6-4Streak L165.7 scored · 69 allowed per game3-4 away
- L59-66at Vermont CatamountsDec 14
- W59-56at Princeton TigersDec 10
- W74-63vs Fairfield StagsDec 7
- W68-66vs Rider BroncsDec 5
- W66-60at La Salle ExplorersNov 30
- L58-78at Hofstra PrideNov 29
- L65-77at Pennsylvania QuakersNov 28
- L45-80at Florida GatorsNov 22
- W72-65vs Maine Black BearsNov 20
- W91-79at Boston University TerriersNov 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 | Merrimack Warriors | Sacred Heart Pioneers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-54 | 25-57 |
| Field goal % | 48 | 44 |
| Three-pointers | 12-30 | 10-25 |
| Three-point % | 40 | 40 |
| Free throws | 16-23 | 12-17 |
| Free throw % | 70 | 71 |
| Rebounds | 29 | 38 |
| Offensive rebounds | 7 | 13 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 25 |
| Assists | 19 | 22 |
| Steals | 12 | 3 |
| Blocks | 5 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 13 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 14 | 18 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 14 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 28 |
| Fouls | 16 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 13 | 0 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 99 | 0 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half48-38Mekhi Conner makes 27-foot three point jumper (Dashon Gittens assists)
- 2nd Half48-41Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes 28-foot three point jumper (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half48-42Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half50-42Kevair Kennedy makes driving layup (Andrés Marrero assists)
- 2nd Half52-42Kevair Kennedy makes driving layup
- 2nd Half52-43Dashon Gittens makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-44Dashon Gittens makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-44KC Ugwuakazi makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half54-47Dashon Gittens makes 27-foot three point jumper (Taj Bryant assists)
- 2nd Half54-49Fallou Gueye makes driving layup (Dashon Gittens assists)
- 2nd Half56-49KC Ugwuakazi makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half57-49KC Ugwuakazi makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half58-49Ernest Shelton makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half59-49Ernest Shelton makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half60-49Ernest Shelton makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half62-49Dylan Veillette makes layup (Kevair Kennedy assists)
- 2nd Half62-51Abdou Yadd makes layup (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half62-53Dashon Gittens makes layup (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half63-53Kevair Kennedy makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-53Kevair Kennedy makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-53Kevair Kennedy makes driving layup
- 2nd Half66-54Mekhi Conner makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half66-55Mekhi Conner makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half66-58Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes 26-foot three point jumper (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half66-61Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes 25-foot three point jumper (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half69-61Ernest Shelton makes 24-foot three point jumper (Todd Brogna assists)
- 2nd Half69-62Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-63Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-63Tye Dorset makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ernest Shelton assists)
- 2nd Half72-65Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes 5-foot floating jump shot (Taj Bryant assists)
- 2nd Half74-65Ernest Shelton makes driving layup (Todd Brogna assists)
- 2nd Half76-65KC Ugwuakazi makes 4-foot dunk (Kevair Kennedy assists)
- 2nd Half76-67Taj Bryant makes driving layup (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half77-67Kevair Kennedy makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-69Dashon Gittens makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half78-69Todd Brogna makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-71Taj Bryant makes layup (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half78-72Taj Bryant makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half79-72Kevair Kennedy makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-72Kevair Kennedy makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Sacred Heart Pioneers, below favours Merrimack Warriors.
Venue
- William H. Pitt CenterFairfield, CT
- Attendance642
- OfficialsPat Driscoll, Ed Corbett Jr., Tim Smith
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond