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Men's Basketball

Mount Loses NEC Opener at Sacred Heart, 80-75

Fairfield, Conn. (December 4, 2008)—Mount St. Mary's saw an 11-point second-half lead evaporate as Sacred Heart rallied for an 80-75 win on Thursday night in the Northeast Conference opener for both teams. The game was a rematch of last year's NEC title game won by the Mount, 68-55.

The Mount opened the second half by scoring six straight points to grab a 47-36 advantage with 17:31 left in the game. The Pioneers (2-3, 1-0 NEC) then rattled off a 28-to-7 run over the next 10 minutes for a 64-54 lead with 7:24 remaining in the game. The Pioneers capped the run by hitting five straight three-point baskets. The middle of the run featured 13 straight Sacred Heart points, including a pair of three-pointers by Ryon Howard.

The Mount (3-3, 0-1 NEC) was able to whittle the lead to 73-69 with 56 seconds left and possession of the ball, but turned the ball over on the next possession. Sacred Heart hit their free throws from there to seal the win.

Howard scored 20 points to pace Sacred Heart in the game while Mehmet Sahan added 14 points and six boards in the victory. Corey Hassan and Shane Gibson each had 12 points in the win.

Jean Cajou scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Mount while Kelly Beidler and Jeremy Goode chipped in 13 and 10 points, respectively. Goode, who entered the game averaging 22.0 points per game, was held to 1-of-14 shooting in the contest.

Sacred Heart shot 52.6 percent from the field in the game, hitting 9-of-18 (.500) from three-point range. The Mount was held to 32.3 percent shooting in the second half and finished the contest 24-of-56 (.429) from the field.

In the first half, the Mount made its first six shots to grab a 19-11 lead at the 13:47 mark. The Mount extended the lead to 33-23 after a pair of Beidler three-pointers, but Sacred Heart answered with seven straight points to cut margin to 33-30. The Mount, however, was able to take a 41-36 lead at the half.

Cajou paced the Mount with seven points in the half while five other players each netted six. Gibson tallied 10 first-half points for the Pioneers. The Mount shot 56.0 percent from the field in the opening half, hitting 4-of-5 (80.0 percent) from three-point range. Sacred Heart converted 51.7 percent of its field goals in the first half.

Mount St. Mary's returns to action on Saturday, December 6, with a 2:00 p.m. game at NEC rival Central Connecticut State.

Game Notes...The Mount now holds an 1107 lead in the all-time series...Mount St. Mary's has now and is 9-11 all-time in NEC openers, including a 2-10 mark on the road.

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Players Mentioned

Jeremy Goode

#1 Jeremy Goode

G
5' 9"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Jeremy Goode

#1 Jeremy Goode

5' 9"
Junior
G
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