Canisius Golden Griffins Edge Sacred Heart Pioneers 82-78
Sunday, January 4, 2026, 12:00 PM ET · Koessler Athletic Center
Canisius Golden Griffins 82, Sacred Heart Pioneers 78, 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 Sacred Heart Pioneers vs Canisius Golden Griffins?
Canisius Golden Griffins beat Sacred Heart Pioneers 82-78 at Koessler Athletic Center on January 4, 2026.
Who was favored in Sacred Heart Pioneers vs Canisius Golden Griffins?
Sacred Heart Pioneers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -238 (about 70% implied). The underdog won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Canisius Golden Griffins secured a narrow 82-78 victory over the Sacred Heart Pioneers at the Koessler Athletic Center on January 4, 2026. This win marks an important moment for Canisius, who had struggled in their previous meetings against Sacred Heart, losing both encounters last season. The Golden Griffins' recent form showed some improvement, as they entered the game with a record of 4-6 in their last ten games, and they were on a one-game winning streak following a victory against the Fairfield Stags just two days prior. In contrast, the Pioneers were struggling, having lost their last three games and holding a record of 3-7 over their last ten outings.
Canisius had a home record of 7-8 for the season, reflecting their better performance when playing in front of their fans. Their scoring average at home was 60.6 points, while they allowed an average of 71.9 points per game. In their last five games, they averaged 62.2 points scored and 72.6 points allowed. The Pioneers, on the other hand, had an away record of 5-11 and averaged 73.3 points scored while allowing 77.4 points in their last ten games. Their away performance was notably weaker, with a recent record of 2-5.
The game was marked by several key scoring plays in the second half. At one point, the score was tied at 75-75, showcasing the back-and-forth nature of the contest. Myles Wilmoth and Bryan Ndjonga made crucial contributions for the Golden Griffins in the closing moments, helping to secure the lead. Kahlil Singleton also played a pivotal role, making free throws that ultimately sealed the victory for Canisius.
In terms of market expectations, DraftKings had set the odds with Sacred Heart favored by 5.5 points, indicating that they were anticipated to perform better based on their overall season record. The total points over/under was set at 141.5, reflecting expectations of a moderately high-scoring game.
The conditions for the game were typical for indoor basketball, with no significant weather factors affecting play. Fans were treated to a competitive atmosphere as both teams fought hard for every point.
Overall, this matchup was significant not only for the standings but also for the psychological edge it provided to Canisius, who had previously struggled against Sacred Heart. The Golden Griffins' ability to close out the game in the final moments will be a confidence booster as they look to build on this victory in their upcoming fixtures.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | SHU -5.5 | 141.5 o -110 / u -110 | Sacred Heart Pioneers -238 · Canisius Golden Griffins +195 |
Leaders
- PointsKahlil Singleton20Canisius Golden Griffins
- AssistsAnthony Benard4Canisius Golden Griffins
- ReboundsMyles Wilmoth8Canisius Golden Griffins
- PointsYann Farell22Sacred Heart Pioneers
- AssistsJaden Slaughter3Sacred Heart Pioneers
- ReboundsTaj Bryant7Sacred Heart Pioneers
Recent form
Canisius Golden Griffins
Last 10: 4-6Streak W160.6 scored · 71.9 allowed per game3-1 at home
- W85-81vs Fairfield StagsJan 2
- L59-103at Duquesne DukesDec 23
- L45-62at Rhode Island RamsDec 17
- W70-43at Maine Black BearsDec 13
- L52-74at Siena SaintsDec 7
- L57-69at Saint Peter's PeacocksDec 6
- L53-71vs Buffalo BullsNov 29
- W75-66vs Binghamton BearcatsNov 23
- W60-57vs Maryland Eastern Shore HawksNov 22
- L50-93at High Point PanthersNov 18
Sacred Heart Pioneers
Last 10: 3-7Streak L373.3 scored · 77.4 allowed per game2-5 away
- L61-64at Niagara Purple EaglesJan 2
- L72-80vs Merrimack WarriorsDec 29
- 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
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 | Sacred Heart Pioneers | Canisius Golden Griffins |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 23-49 | 23-46 |
| Field goal % | 47 | 50 |
| Three-pointers | 8-27 | 5-18 |
| Three-point % | 30 | 28 |
| Free throws | 24-28 | 31-37 |
| Free throw % | 86 | 84 |
| Rebounds | 26 | 28 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 6 |
| Defensive rebounds | 20 | 22 |
| Assists | 11 | 9 |
| Steals | 7 | 8 |
| Blocks | 0 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 13 |
| Fast-break points | 13 | 17 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 36 |
| Fouls | 24 | 24 |
| Largest lead | 12 | 4 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 79 | 8 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half49-48Kahlil Singleton makes layup (Mike Evbagharu assists)
- 2nd Half52-48Yann Farell makes 24-foot three point jumper (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half52-49Kahlil Singleton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-50Kahlil Singleton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-50Abdou Yadd makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-50Abdou Yadd makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-52Kahlil Singleton makes 15-foot jumper
- 2nd Half54-54King Ijeoma makes layup (Kahlil Singleton assists)
- 2nd Half55-54Yann Farell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-54Yann Farell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-54Abdou Yadd makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-54Abdou Yadd makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-56Bryan Ndjonga makes driving layup
- 2nd Half61-56Mekhi Conner makes 26-foot three point jumper (Yann Farell assists)
- 2nd Half61-57Marcus Niblack makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-58Marcus Niblack makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-61Bryan Ndjonga makes 27-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half64-61Mekhi Conner makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half64-64Bryan Ndjonga makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half64-67Kahlil Singleton makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half67-67Abdou Yadd makes 25-foot three point jumper (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half67-68Bryan Ndjonga makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-69Bryan Ndjonga makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-69Jaden Slaughter makes driving layup
- 2nd Half69-71Bryan Ndjonga makes 4-foot jumper
- 2nd Half69-72Bryan Ndjonga makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half70-72Mekhi Conner makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-72Mekhi Conner makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-73Anthony Benard makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-73Jaden Slaughter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-73Jaden Slaughter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-75Anthony Benard makes driving layup
- 2nd Half75-75Dashon Gittens makes driving layup
- 2nd Half75-77Myles Wilmoth makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half75-79Bryan Ndjonga makes 6-foot jumper (Myles Wilmoth assists)
- 2nd Half77-79Dashon Gittens makes driving layup
- 2nd Half78-79Dashon Gittens makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half78-80Mike Evbagharu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-81Kahlil Singleton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-82Kahlil Singleton makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Canisius Golden Griffins, below favours Sacred Heart Pioneers.
Venue
- Koessler Athletic CenterBuffalo, NY
- Attendance567
- OfficialsJohn Cahill Jr., Michael Kitts, Adam Fiore
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- Sacred Heart Edges Canisius in Close ContestJan 22, 2026