Sacred Heart Pioneers Defeat Iona Gaels 91-80
Thursday, March 5, 2026, 6:00 PM ET · Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Sacred Heart Pioneers 91, Iona Gaels 80, 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 Iona Gaels?
Sacred Heart Pioneers beat Iona Gaels 91-80 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on March 5, 2026.
Who was favored in Sacred Heart Pioneers vs Iona Gaels?
Iona Gaels were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -170 (about 63% implied). The underdog won.
In an exciting matchup at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, the Sacred Heart Pioneers triumphed over the Iona Gaels with a final score of 91-80. This victory marks a significant achievement for Sacred Heart, who improved their head-to-head record against Iona to 3-1 in their last four meetings. The Pioneers had previously faced the Gaels twice in the 2025 and 2026 seasons, winning both contests, including a close 90-88 game last March and a decisive 81-69 victory in December.
Both teams entered the game with similar recent form, each having a record of 5-5 in their last ten games. However, the Pioneers showcased a slightly better scoring average, putting up 75.4 points per game while allowing 76.6. In contrast, the Gaels averaged 72.8 points scored and 69.8 points allowed. Iona's recent form included a two-game winning streak prior to this matchup, while Sacred Heart was looking to build on their own momentum after a victory against Mount St. Mary's.
At home, Iona had a record of 3-2, while Sacred Heart struggled on the road with a 1-4 away record. This home advantage for Iona was reflected in their performance, but Sacred Heart's recent success seemed to give them the confidence needed to overcome the odds.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details about player availability, but both teams were expected to field their best lineups. The market had set the odds with Iona favored at -3.5 according to DraftKings, indicating that they were expected to win by a narrow margin. The total points for the game were set at 149.5, reflecting expectations of a high-scoring affair.
The conditions at the venue were conducive to an exciting game, with fans eager to see how both teams would perform under the spotlight. As the game unfolded, viewers were treated to a display of skill and determination from both sides. In the second half, the scoring plays highlighted the Pioneers' ability to maintain their lead, with key contributions from players like Luke Jungers, who made crucial free throws and a three-point jumper that helped extend Sacred Heart's advantage.
In the end, the Pioneers secured their victory with a final push, showcasing their resilience and ability to execute under pressure. The game ended with a score of 91-80, a testament to Sacred Heart's offensive prowess and strategic play. This result will certainly have implications for both teams as they continue their respective seasons.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | IONA -3.5 | 149.5 o -112 / u -108 | Sacred Heart Pioneers +142 · Iona Gaels -170 |
Leaders
- PointsLuke Jungers20Iona Gaels
- AssistsLamin Sabally8Iona Gaels
- ReboundsLamin Sabally7Iona Gaels
- PointsNyle Ralph-Beyer26Sacred Heart Pioneers
- AssistsMekhi Conner12Sacred Heart Pioneers
- ReboundsYann Farell10Sacred Heart Pioneers
Recent form
Iona Gaels
Last 10: 5-5Streak W272.8 scored · 69.8 allowed per game3-2 at home
- W69-65at Manhattan JaspersMar 1
- W80-58vs Rider BroncsFeb 28
- L86-88at Merrimack WarriorsFeb 22
- W72-64vs Saint Peter's PeacocksFeb 21
- L68-70at Niagara Purple EaglesFeb 15
- W69-63at Canisius Golden GriffinsFeb 14
- L76-83vs Mount St. Mary's MountaineersFeb 8
- L72-79at Siena SaintsFeb 6
- L70-71vs Fairfield StagsJan 31
- W66-57vs Manhattan JaspersJan 25
Sacred Heart Pioneers
Last 10: 5-5Streak W175.4 scored · 76.6 allowed per game1-4 away
- W77-69vs Mount St. Mary's MountaineersFeb 28
- L63-65at Marist Red FoxesFeb 22
- L68-78at Fairfield StagsFeb 21
- W86-75vs Rider BroncsFeb 15
- W78-71vs Saint Peter's PeacocksFeb 14
- L68-80at Manhattan JaspersFeb 7
- L87-92vs Fairfield StagsFeb 6
- L58-75at Merrimack WarriorsFeb 1
- W98-91at Quinnipiac BobcatsJan 31
- W71-70vs Niagara Purple EaglesJan 24
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 | Iona Gaels |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 29-58 | 30-66 |
| Field goal % | 50 | 45 |
| Three-pointers | 13-37 | 8-31 |
| Three-point % | 35 | 26 |
| Free throws | 20-24 | 12-18 |
| Free throw % | 83 | 67 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 35 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 13 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 22 |
| Assists | 21 | 17 |
| Steals | 4 | 1 |
| Blocks | 7 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 7 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 2 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 42 |
| Fouls | 17 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 13 | 7 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 66 | 30 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half56-47Yann Farell makes 24-foot three point jumper (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half56-50Toby Harris makes 25-foot three point jumper (Lamin Sabally assists)
- 2nd Half56-53Luke Jungers makes 24-foot three point jumper (Lamin Sabally assists)
- 2nd Half59-53Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes 24-foot three point jumper (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half59-56Toby Harris makes 26-foot three point jumper (Kosy Akametu assists)
- 2nd Half61-56Yann Farell makes driving layup (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half61-58Lamin Sabally makes driving layup
- 2nd Half62-58Anquan Hill makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-58Anquan Hill makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-58Anquan Hill makes 25-foot three point jumper (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half68-58Jaden Slaughter makes driving layup (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half68-60Lamin Sabally makes 5-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half70-60Mekhi Conner makes driving layup
- 2nd Half70-62Luke Jungers makes layup
- 2nd Half71-62Anquan Hill makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-63Khalil Badru makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-64Khalil Badru makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-64Yann Farell makes layup (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half74-64Dashon Gittens makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-64Dashon Gittens makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-66Khalil Badru makes 9-foot pullup jump shot (CJ Anthony assists)
- 2nd Half75-67Khalil Badru makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half78-67Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes 24-foot three point jumper (Yann Farell assists)
- 2nd Half78-69Luke Jungers makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half80-69Mekhi Conner makes driving layup
- 2nd Half82-69Dashon Gittens makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half82-71Kosy Akametu makes driving layup
- 2nd Half84-71Anquan Hill makes 7-foot floating jump shot (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half84-72CJ Anthony makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half84-73CJ Anthony makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half85-73Anquan Hill makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half86-73Anquan Hill makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half86-74Luke Jungers makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half86-75Luke Jungers makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half87-75Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half87-77CJ Anthony makes driving layup
- 2nd Half88-77Jaden Slaughter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half89-77Jaden Slaughter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half89-80Luke Jungers makes 27-foot three point jumper (Lamin Sabally assists)
- 2nd Half91-80Dashon Gittens makes driving layup (Mekhi Conner assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Iona Gaels, below favours Sacred Heart Pioneers.
Venue
- Jim Whelan Boardwalk HallAtlantic City, NJ
- Attendance1037
- OfficialsJohn Cahill Jr., Adam Vandenburgh, Greg Evans
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