Men Win Second Straight, Top SHU 84-78

Freshman Brandon Peel posted career-highs of 17 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Central Connecticut men's basketball team to an 84-78 home victory over Sacred Heart on Thursday night.  Peel has 36 rebounds in the last three games and hit 6-of-10 from the field in the victory.

The 17 rebounds for Peel are the most for a Blue Devil in a single game since former First Team All-Conference forward Obie Nwadike had 17 in a game three times during the 2006-07 season.

Peel has started the last three games, and set a new career-high in rebounds in each of the three.  He had eight at St. Francis (PA), 11 at Robert Morris and 17 tonight.

With the victory the Blue Devils are now 6-8 overall and 2-1 in Northeast Conference play.  Sacred Heart falls to 4-10 overall and 2-1 in the league with the loss. 

The Blue Devils outrebounded Sacred Heart 49-42 on the night, including 17 from Peel and 11 from junior Terrell Allen.  He added eight points and four assists.  The double-double for Peel is the first of his career.  The 11 rebounds for Allen are also a career-high.

Junior Matt Hunter paced the offensive with 21 points.  He added seven rebounds and a pair of steals.  Sophomore Kyle Vinales added 15 points, all in the second half, and had a team-high seven assists on the night.

Five Blue Devils scored in double figures for the fourth time this season.  Sophomore Adonis Burbage added 11 points and classmate Malcolm McMillan had 12 points and five assists to go along with seven rebounds.  Peel added four blocks for another career-high.

All seven of Vinales' assists came in the second half, and the Blue Devils assisted on 22 of 28 baskets in the game, the most in a single game this season.  The 49 rebounds were also a season-high, and the second straight game Central has outrebounded its opponent.

Central scored 56 second half points in the victory.  It was the most points in a half this season and the most in a half since they scored 57 in the second half of an overtime game vs. Sacred Heart on Jan. 27, 2007.  It's the most point in a half of a non-overtime game since Dec. 12, 2001 when they scored 57 points in the second half of a 107-76 win at LIU Brooklyn.

Sacred Heart shot just 31-of-80 from the field and 10-of-31 from three in the loss.  Shane Gibson and Steve Glowiak each had 22 points and Louis Montes added 14.  Phil Gaetano had nine assists.

The Blue Devils get right back to work on Saturday, hosting 3-0 Bryant at 3:30 p.m. in Detrick Gym.  The game will be televised live on CPTV Sports, and online at www.NECFrontRow.com.