Blue Devils Fall in Final Non-Conference Game of the Season

The Central Connecticut men's basketball team dropped to 1-10 overall on the season with a 62-42 loss at home to Yale on Wednesday night in Detrick Gym.  The game was the final non-conference game of the season for the Blue Devils.  They will travel to Bryant on Saturday at 4 p.m. to open Northeast Conference play.  Yale improves to 6-5 with the win.

The Blue Devils were led by freshmen Austin Nehls and Malik Toppin who each had 10 points in the loss.  Toppin added seven rebounds.  Senior Brandon Peel had eight points and seven rebounds.

The Blue Devils climbed out to a quick 7-2 lead but then went cold from the field and went over eight minutes without a point as the Bulldogs used a 17-0 run to take a 19-7 lead with 6:40 to play before the break.  

Central was just 7-of-26 from the field in the half and Yale held a 26-4 edge in points in the paint as they took a 31-18 halftime lead.  Yale turned nine offensive rebounds into 10 points.  Yale was just 14-of-34 from the field in the half, but turned the ball over only five times and score 10 points off seven CCSU turnovers.

The Blue Devils cut the lead to eight to open the second half, 34-26, with 15:41 to play.  The Bulldogs responded with eight straight points and built the lead back to 42-26 with under 13 minutes to play.  

The Yale run reached 14-2 and the lead went to 48-28 with 10 minutes to play in the game.  

The Bulldogs held a decisive edge on the boards, outrebounding the Blue Devils 51-28 in the game, including 21 offensive rebounds that led to 19 second chance points.  

The Blue Devils were led by Nehls and Toppin who each had 10 points.  Toppin added seven rebounds, while Peel had eight points and seven rebounds.

Yale was led by Justin Sears who had 15 points and eight rebounds.  Brandon Sherrod added 12 points and 10 rebounds in the victory.

The Blue Devils will open NEC play on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Bryant.  They return home on Monday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m., hosting LIU Brooklyn on MSG.