Men Drop Final Non-Conference Game at CCU
Blue Devils open NEC play next Thursday night
The Central Connecticut men's basketball team dropped its final non-conference game of the season, 86-67, on the road at Coastal Carolina on Friday night. With the loss the Blue Devils fall to 4-9 as the non-conference schedule comes to an end. Coastal is now 7-7 on the season.
The Blue Devils were led by junior Malcolm McMillan who had 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Three Blue Devils added 10 points in the loss.
Central is back in action at home next Thursday night in their Northeast Conference opener hosting Wagner beginning at 7 p.m.
Coastal led 47-28 at the half after shooting 55 percent (17-of-31) from the field and 50 percent (6-of-12) from three. They turned the ball over just four times in the half. Central shot 13-of-31 (42 percent) and hit only 1-of-9 from three. They only had five turnovers and dished out seven assists. Junior Faronte Drakeford led the Blue Devils with eight points.
The lead reached as much as 23 in the second half, but the Blue Devils were able to cut it to 10 with just over a minute to play after a run of baskets by McMillan. CCU answered by pushing the lead back to 19 at the final buzzer, winning 86-67. Elijah Wilson led CCU with 19 points as six Chanticleers scored in double-figures in the victory.
McMillan's 12 led Central, he also added seven rebounds but the Blue Devils were outrebounded 48-31 in the game. Coastal had 20 offensive boards and outscored the Blue Devils 44-36 in the paint.
Junior Kyle Vinales had 10 points and seven assists. He has 15 assists in the last two games. His 10 points give him 1,378 career points, moving him past Steve Ayers for 13th on the all-time list for the Blue Devils.
Freshman Matt Mobley added eight points, all in the second half, and Drakeford had 10 points. Sophomore Brandon Peel had four blocks and has nine in his last three games.
The Blue Devils return to action next Thursday at home hosting Wagner in the Northeast Conference opener for both teams. Tip is set for 7 p.m.
