Sacred Heart vs Rider Prediction 1/19/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Sacred Heart Pioneers and the Rider Broncs will meet on Monday afternoon in a MAAC matchup at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

Sacred Heart Pioneers Betting Preview

The Sacred Heart Pioneers enter Monday’s matchup with Rider with a 6–13 overall win-loss record, including a 2–6 mark in conference play and a 3-9 record on the road. The Pioneers have compiled wins over Dartmouth, Mount St. Mary’s and Holy Cross, while dropping games to Marist, Penn State, Iona and the Central Connecticut Blue Devils. In the Sacred Heart Pioneers 70–60 loss to Quinnipiac earlier this month, Sacred Heart forward Anquan Hill tallied 21 points (8 of 15 shooting from the field: 2 of 5 shooting from three-point range) illustrating his ability to provide consistent interior scoring and serve as a focal point of the Pioneers offense.

The Sacred Heart Pioneers are averaging 72.9 points on 41.7 percent shooting from the field and 34.9 percent shooting from three-point range per game. Defensively, the Pioneers are allowing opponents 78.6 points per contest.

Senior forward Anquan Hill leads the Sacred Heart Pioneers averaging 16.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block per game. Senior guard Dashon Gittens contributes 14.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals per contest. Junior forward Yann Farell averages 11.5 rebounds and 4.8 rebounds per game.

Rider Broncs Betting Preview

The Rider Broncs enter Monday afternoon’s game with a 2–15 record, including a 1–7 mark in conference play and a 2–5 record at home. Rider has amassed wins over Iona and Eastern University, while losing games to Saint Peter’s, Fairfield, Siena, Delaware and Quinnipiac. More recently, in the Rider Broncs 72–68 win over Iona four days ago, Rider guard Flash Burton accumulated 21 points (6 of 11 shooting from the field), 9 rebounds, 2 rebounds and 4 assists showcasing his ability to be a presence in the paint.

The Rider Broncs average 59.8 points on 38.1 percent shooting from the field and 25.2 percent shooting from behind the arc per game. On the defensive side of the basketball, the Broncs are allowing opponents 75.4 points per contest.

Sophomore guard Flash Burton leads the Rider Broncs with 12.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1 steal per game. Senior guard Zion Cruz adds 12.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per contest, while junior guard Caleb Smith adds further backcourt stability averaging 7.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

Why the Sacred Heart Pioneers will win

• Guard play. Senior guard Dashon Gittens contributes 14.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals per contest.

• Interior production. Senior forward Anquan Hill leads the Sacred Heart Pioneers averaging 16.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block per game.

• Offensive edge. The Sacred Heart Pioneers are averaging 72.9 points per game. Conversely, the Rider Broncs are averaging a rather low 59.8 per contest.

Why the Rider Broncs will win

• Home court edge. The Rider Broncs are 0-10 on the road and 2-5 at home this season.

• Quality guard play. Sophomore guard Flash Burton leads the Rider Broncs with 12.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1 steal per game.

• Defensive advantage. The Broncs are allowing opponents 75.4 points per game. The Pioneers are allowing opponents 78.6 points per contest.

Sacred Heart Pioneers vs. Rider Broncs Prediction

This matchup features Sacred Heart’s balanced scoring and quality guard play against a Rider team that leans heavily on its frontcourt. Rider’s home floor and interior strength give them a path to stay competitive, but Sacred Heart’s guard play and scoring depth make them the more reliable side. I am backing the Pioneers to control the pace and close this out late.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Sacred Heart TBA