Balanced Attack Leads CCSU to Home Win

Four Blue Devils scored in double-figures as the Central Connecticut men's basketball team moved to 2-5 overall on the season with a 65-56 home victory over New Hampshire on Wednesday night in New Britain.

Senior Matt Hunter led the offense with a game-high 13 points while adding six rebounds and three steals.  Junior Faronte Drakeford added 12 points and five rebounds as well as his three steals.  Sophomore Brandon Peel had 11 points, nine rebounds and three blocks as Central moves to 1-1 at home this season.  Peel has 21 rebounds in his last two outings.

The Blue Devils return to action on Saturday at Ohio State at 4:30 p.m. live on the Big Ten Network.

Central shot only 36.2 percent from the field (21-of-58) and only 2-of-16 from three (12.5 percent), but dished out 13 assists against only 10 turnovers in the game to seal the victory.  They had 10 steals as a team on 17 New Hampshire turnovers.

The Blue Devils led by as many as 15 in the second half, 45-30 and 47-32, but New Hampshire rallied to cut the lead to 53-52 with 2:11 to play in the second half.  Central who had made just 11-of-18 from the free-throw line in the first 38 minutes, made 10-of-10 in the final 2:05 to seal the victory.  They ended the game making 21-of-28 from the line, good for 75 percent.  Drakeford and Peel each hit two and junior Malcolm McMillan hit six.

Redshirt freshman Khalen Cumberlander had 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, he was the fourth Blue Devil in double-figures.  Junior Kyle Vinales added six points and senior Terrell Allen had seven points, four rebounds and a block.  The Blue Devils had five blocks in the game.

McMillan finished the game with six points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Central is now 2-5 overall on the season with the win, its third straight over New Hampshire.  They are back in action on Saturday at Ohio State beginning at 4:30 p.m.