BUFFALO, N.Y. — In a thrilling matchup, Sacred Heart emerged victorious over Canisius with a score of 93-84 on Thursday night, propelled by Tanner Thomas’ standout performance, who recorded 18 points.

Thomas not only contributed significantly on offense but also grabbed six rebounds for the Pioneers, who now hold a record of 7-12 overall and 3-5 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Amiri Stewart was another key player, scoring 16 points thanks to an impressive shooting performance of 6 for 8, including 2 for 3 from beyond the arc, coupled with five rebounds. Bryce Johnson also had a solid outing, efficiently converting 5 of 6 attempts from the field and going a perfect 4 for 4 from the free-throw line to amass 15 points, while contributing seven rebounds.

On the other side, the Golden Griffins struggled with a 2-17 overall record and a 2-6 mark in conference play. They were led by Paul McMillan IV, who delivered an impressive performance, scoring 23 points and dishing out eight assists. Tana Kopa chimed in with 21 points, while Cam Palesse added 15 points for Canisius.

Both teams will look to build on their performances when they return to the court on Saturday. Sacred Heart will travel to face Niagara, while Canisius will host Marist in what promises to be a competitive game.