Men Fall at Bryant on Thursday

The Central Connecticut men's basketball team dropped its fourth straight game and fell to 10-15 overall and 6-8 in Northeast Conference play on Thursday night, falling 88-67 to the 10-4 Bulldogs.  Bryant is 17-8 overall and snapped a two-game losing streak with the win.

Sophomore Kyle Vinales led the offense with 18 points, 14 in the first half.  Junior Matt Hunter added 17 points and seven boards while senior Joe Efese had 13 points and six rebounds in the loss. 

Central started just 3-of-14 from field and went down 16-8 with 11:21 to play in the half.  The Blue Devils cut it to 18-15 in the next 2:22 but Bryant would open up the lead to as much as 13 before halftime.

The Bulldogs went on a 21-11 run to open up a 39-26 lead with 3:26 to play before the half.  A three from Vinales, his second of the half, cut the lead to 10. 

The Bulldogs led 43-31 at the half after the Blue Devils struggled from the field in the first 20 minutes.  They were just 12-of-31 from the field and 3-of-9 from three.  The Bulldogs hit 15-of-29 before the break and 11-of-14 from the free-throw line.  they were 13-of-18 inside the three-point line.

The Bryant lead reached 17 just 2:55 into the second half.  It was 57-38 after a three point play from Dyami Starks with just over 15 to play.  After a three from Starks it was 66-41 with 12:14 to play. 

Vinales led the Blue Devils with 18 points, Hunter added 17 points and seven boards.  Central had 13 assists and only eight turnovers, but shot just 25-of-58 from the field and 7-of-18 from three.  Sophomore Malcolm McMillan had four assists without a turnover.  Vinales also added four assists.  Hunter had three steals.

Central returns to action on the road on Saturday playing at Sacred Heart beginning at 3:30 p.m.  Fans can listen to the game live on Fox Sports Radio 1410 and ESPN Radio 1300 in New Haven.  They can also listen live online on www.iHeartRadio.com.