Men's Hoop Hangs On for 62-60 Victory at Wagner on Saturday Night

Sophomore Robby Ptacek scored 19 points and the Central Connecticut State University men's basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak with a 62-60 win on the road at Wagner on Saturday. With the win the Blue Devils move into an eighth place tie with St. Francis (NY) with a 7-9 Northeast Conference record. Central currently holds the tie-breaker with the Terriers, but the two teams will meet in the final regular season game of the season next Saturday in New Britain. Central plays again at home on Thursday night hosting Long Island at 7:30 p.m.

Both teams struggled from the floor to start the game, but the Blue Devils used an 11-4 run to take an 18-9 lead with just over nine minutes to play in the half. Ptacek scored six straight points and freshman Devan Bailey had six early points to lead the offense.

The Seahawks answered with a 18-5 run over the next seven minutes to take their first lead of the game, 27-23, with just under three minutes on the clock. Wagner hit 6-of-7 from the field and forced a pair of Blue Devil turnovers during the run.

The Seahawks led 27-25 at the half, as junior Markeys Deans ended a 9-0 run by the Seahawks with a basket just before the halftime buzzer to cut the Wagner lead to two. The Seahawks outscored Central 14-4 in the final 6:23 of the half. Neither team shot well from the field in the half. Central made 10-of-32, good for 31.3 percent. Wagner hit just 11-of-29, good for 37.9 percent. Each team hit a pair of threes before the break.

Central retook the lead to start the second half, 36-33, on a three-point play from junior Shemik Thompson. Thompson had seven points in the first 3:30 minutes of the half to lead the Blue Devils. Five straight points from Ptacek made it 47-41 in favor of the Blue Devils with 13:27 to play.

The Seahawks scored four straight before the next media timeout to cut the Blue Devil lead to 47-45 with 11:10 on the clock. Central answered, including another bucket from Thompson, and led 52-45.

Wagner used an 10-4 run over the next 2:30 to cut the Blue Devil lead to 56-55. Three free-throws and a basket underneath by junior Markeys Deans 61-55 with 2:21 on the clock. Following a Blue Devil turnover, Wagner cut it to 62-60 with 51 seconds to play. Central turned it over on its next possession, but the Seahawks were unable to get a shot off before the final buzzer.

Ptacek led the Blue Devils with 19 points, while Deans added 15 and Thompson had 12 points and eight boards.

The Blue Devils return to action on Thursday night, hosting Long Island beginning at 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised live on MSG, Cox Sports TV and Fox College Sports Atlantic.