Justin Swidowski scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds in his Sacred Heart debut, a 70-50 victory Friday in both teams' season opener.
Swidowski, a 6-foot-9 transfer forward, hit 7 of 10 shots from the floor and grabbed eight rebounds. Guard Shane Gibson scored 15 points as Sacred Heart started slowly but finished strong. The Pioneers went on a 15-2 run - including 11 unanswered points - midway through the first half to lead 20-6. Seven different players scored during that stretch, climaxed by Gibson's 3-pointer. Sacred Heart led 26-15 at halftime.
Hartford shot 27.3 percent from the field (18 for 66), hitting just 5 for 30 from the 3-point arc. Although Evan Kelley's 3-pointer got Hartford within 50-43 with 4:13 left, Sacred Heart closed with a 13-0 run.
Yolonzo Moore II led Hartford with 12 points. Jamie Schneck scored 11 and had seven rebounds.
