After scoring his third straight shot from the right corner, senior forward Amarri Monroe was as fired up as you can get.

Monroe ran over to the media table, slammed his hands down and with the adrenaline still pumping in his system let out two words. 

“Let’s go!” 

That’s the type of game that the Quinnipiac men’s basketball team was in for while facing Sacred Heart.

In a game where four players from each team managed double-digit points and 30 lead changes occurred, the Bobcats fell short. Head coach Tom Pecora felt that the team’s youth and inexperience played a factor.

“When you give up 96 [points] you’re not going to win many games unless you’re playing in the NBA,” Pecora said. “I keep talking about our youth but damn it’s February, we got to get old.”

It’s something that needs to happen fast if Quinnipiac is going to be competitive in the MAAC. The Bobcats already have five conference losses, the same amount they had all of last season.

The 98-91 scoreboard is deceiving, Quinnipiac could and should have won this game.

The opening minutes saw a barrage of three-pointers, but the road to hitting those threes was a bit different for both teams.

Sacred Heart distributed out to the perimeter early and fast. Senior guard Dahson Gittens and senior forwards Yann Ferell and Anquan Hill each got their chance to let it rain from deep.

For Quinnipiac, sophomore guard Jaden Zimmerman stole the show. The Bronx, N.Y. native made three consecutive shots in a row and sunk two from the cherry stripe for good measure. 

Just five minutes into the contest, Zimmerman was responsible for 10 of the Bobcats’ 15 total points. 

But despite the hot start Sacred Heart kept up the pace, hitting fast transition threes to not only keep up with Quinnipiac, but take command of a growing lead. 

Things came to a turning point when Gittens had a wide open lane beyond the arc and hit an uncontested three to grow the Pioneers’ lead to nine. It was Sacred Heart’s sixth three of the game.

Pecora immediately called a timeout. If Quinnipiac was going to take back the lead it needed to happen in the trenches. And sophomore forward Grant Randall was up to the task.

When Quinnipiac began to struggle beyond the arc, Randall was there for the offensive rebound. And when it got so rough that airballs started to fly from the Bobcats, you guessed it, Randall was there to save the day.

The Pioneers had no answers for Randall on both ends of the floor, which opened up opportunities for the Bobcats to put some ice on Sacred Heart’s hot start to the game.

As the first half began to wind down, both teams traded buckets. But it was at this point in the contest that Monroe sprang to life. 

Monroe hit two back-to-back threes from the right corner. His second was a fadeaway that resulted in Monroe on the floor, and the crowd began to come alive. 

After a couple more possessions, freshman guard Keith McKnight eurostepped his way to the basket, resulting in Quinnipiac finally taking back the lead and a thunderous reaction from the crowd.

The referee’s whistle blew as this time it was Sacred Heart head coach Anthony Latina who wanted a timeout.

Quinnipiac finished the first half strong, McKnight attempted a reverse layup as the clock expired but was fouled in the process. 

McKnight sank one of his two free throws and Quinnipiac headed to the locker room with a three-point lead.

Coming out of the second half both teams were energized on defense, picking up with tight coverage from full court.

All game long, Quinnipiac was having difficulty containing Hill, who finished the contest with 26 points. His ability to finish at the rim, stretch the floor and defend at a high level made it a challenge to keep just one Bobcat on him. 

That was the same case in the second half, but when Quinnipiac was really able to shine were the minutes that Hill spent on the bench. 

However, neither team could keep a stable lead, it was anyone’s game.

As time began to wind down, both teams began to pick up the tempo to limited results. The fast-paced action wasn’t working for either squad. Missed layups, stripped balls and awkward timing made the game slower despite the fast pace. 

But Quinnipiac managed to break the spell, for a moment. As Hill drove to the lane in position for an easy dunk, McKnight came out of nowhere to smack the ball out of the distraught Hill’s hands.

Then on the other end of the floor Asim Jones threw a perfect pass to Randall in transition, who threw down a two-handed slam and brought the crowd to its feet. 

Randall finished the contest with a double-double and a career high 16 rebounds.

The fight wasn’t over for either team quite yet, with under two minutes to go the score was tied at 86 points a piece. 

With an open attempt on the floor, Gittens nailed a three to give the Pioneers the lead with one minute remaining. On the next play Zimmerman got fouled and nailed his free throws. 

A few more fouls later and the game sat at 92-88 Sacred Heart, Quinnipiac needed a score on its next possession or the game was over.

But Sacred Heart gave Quinnipiac a break, just for the Bobcats to give it right back. Monroe was fouled as barely a second game off the clock, but he missed his second free throw and the ball went right back to the Pioneers.

Sophomore guard Mekhi Conner made both his free throws and essentially ended the game.

After the game Pecora suggested that the team might need to change things up, including a minutes rotation at point guard.

“I think Asim gets beat up and tired, he looks physically tired,” Pecora said. “And we’re gonna have to address. I guess get Tai some more minutes in the back court.”

Whatever the plans for the future may hold, the Bobcats need to find a way to close out games before it is too late.

Quinnipiac will travel south to take on in-state rival Fairfield on Feb. 1. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.