Pitt Center features an NCAAB clash between the host Sacred Heart Pioneers and the visiting Long Island Blackbirds in college hoops action on Thursday.

The Blackbirds will try to spoil to the party on Thursday; they are 0-0 ATS against the number this season, while the Pioneers are 0-0 ATS. Long Island is 0-0 on the totals; Sacred Heart is 0-0.



View Long Island vs Sacred Heart Odds and Stats.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Odds Shark Power Rankings have the Pioneers at No. 283 and the Blackbirds at No. 178 heading into this contest. Handicapping models at Odds Shark project a 75-74 result in favor of the Blackbirds.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Sacred Heart's No. 107 nationally ranked offense (72.5 points per game) against a Blackbirds defense that sits as the No. 330 at 77.1 PPG. The Pioneers have been averaging 45.2% from the field, less than the Blackbirds have managed so far this season (45.8% on average).

Defensively, Long Island features the nation's No. 285-rated defense on the road, allowing 77.1 points per game. Sacred Heart, meanwhile, comes in at No. 103 nationally in scoring at home.

Long Island was an 84-74 Sportsbook in its last match at home against NJIT. Julian Boyd scored 22 points and added 11 rebounds for a double-double, leading Long Island over NJIT, 84-74, on Friday at Wellness Center.

Sacred Heart was a 77-59 Sportsbook in their most recent outing on the road against New Hampshire. The Pioneers got a 22-point performance from Shane Gibson, who added 10 rebounds, as Sacred Heart ran past New Hampshire 77-59 on Thursday at Lundholm Gymnasium.

Next up:
Long Island at Quinnipiac, Saturday, January 7
Sacred Heart home to St. Francis NY, Saturday, January 7