LIU Outlasts CCSU 62-61 on Saturday
Blue Devils Fall to 0-4 in NEC Play
The Central Connecticut men's basketball team dropped a 62-61 home decision to LIU Brooklyn on Saturday despite 23 points from junior Malcolm McMillan. The Blue Devils are now 4-13 overall and 0-4 in league play. LIU improves to 6-11 overall and 1-3 in NEC play.
McMillan shot 9-of-9 from the field and 4-of-4 from three in the loss. He added four assists and a block in 37 minutes of action. Junior Faronte Drakeford had 10 points and sophomore Brandon Peel had eight points and a game-high nine rebounds.
The Blue Devils led by two at the half, 38-36, but the Blackbirds took a 52-45 lead with 10:36 left in the second half. A three from Jason Brickman gave the Blackbirds their biggest lead of the game. They led 58-52 with 4:32 left before the Blue Devils answered with eight straight points to take a 60-58 lead with 2:40 on the clock. A jumper from senior Terrell Allen gave Central the lead.
The Blackbirds tied the game 60-60 on a layup from Gerrell Martin with 1:49 on the clock. With the score tied McMillan was fouled while taking a three and he went to the line with 1:12 left. After missing the first two he made the third for the one point edge. Martin answered for the Blackbirds with another hoop to give the visitors the 62-61 lead with 39 seconds to play.
On CCSU's next possession Allen's three went in-and-out and the Blue Devils were forced to foul. LIU's Brickman missed the front end of a one-and-one and the Blue Devils got the ball with 11 seconds on the clock. A three from Peel was off the mark and LIU hung on for the win.
McMillan's 23 points led all scorers. He didn't miss a shot from the field. Drakeford posted his 12th double-figure scoring performance of the season with his 10 points. His season average is up to 12.8 points per game.
Brickman led the Blackbirds with 14 points and six assists in 35 minutes. Martin added 13 including the final four of the game for LIU.
Central will now play its next four games on the road, beginning on Thursday night at Wagner at 7 p.m. They also play at Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday afternoon.