Sacred Heart defeats St. Francis (Pa.) 72-57

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (AP) — Shane Gibson scored 22 of his 28 points in the second half to lead Sacred Heart over St. Francis (Pa.) 72-57 on Saturday.

The Pioneers (14-17, 8-10 Northeast Conference) trailed 22-21 before ending the first half on a 7-5 run. Justin Swidowski’s dunk with 22 seconds left sent Sacred Heart into halftime up 28-25.

After Saint Francis’ Scott Eatherton made the first basket of the second half, 22 seconds in, the Pioneers pulled away.

Gibson scored eight points during Sacred Heart’s 13-4 run to go up 41-31 with 16:32 to play.

The Pioneers shot 59.3 percent (16 of 27) in the second half after both teams struggled in the first, going just 2 of 12 from the field to open the game.

Stan Dulaire added 17 points for the Pioneers, who open the NEC Tournament against top-seeded LIU-Brooklyn Thursday.

Anthony Ervin scored 20 in the Terriers’ (6-22, 5-12) season finale.