The Central Connecticut men's basketball team opens the 2017-18 season at Hartford on Friday night. The 8:00 p.m. tipoff between the local rivals will be broadcast on ESPN3. The Blue Devils are opening their season against the Hawks for the third straight season.
Central won last year's matchup over the Hawks, 75-60, at Detrick Gymnasium. This will be the second meeting of a five-year agreement. Next season's meeting will also be at Hartford before the teams alternate hosting the final two meetings of the series.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION | Chase Arena (West Hartford, CT)
CCSU at Hartford | Friday, Nov. 10 | 8 PM
VIDEO (ESPN3) | LIVE STATS | @KizerBlueDevil (In-game twitter updates)
GAME NOTES
SERIES HISTORY • All-Time Series Record: CCSU leads, 29-17 | First Meeting: CCSU, 82-70 (Dec. 13, 1958) | Last Meeting: CCSU, 75-60 (Nov. 11, 2016) | Last CCSU Win: 75-60 (Nov. 11, 2016) | Last Hartford Win: 92-83 (2ot) (Nov. 13, 2015)
WHO'S RETURNING IN 2017-18 • Junior
Austin Nehls (13.4 ppg) is CCSU's top returning scorer after leading the team last season. Senior
Mustafa Jones (4.9 rpg) is the top rebounder after ranking third on the squad last season. CCSU returns three starters and 58.8% of its scoring, 56.8% of their rebounding and 63.7% of minutes played from a season ago. In addition to Nehls and Jones, sophomore
Tyson Batiste (5.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg) is back after starting in 22 games as a rookie.
BLUE DEVILS BRING IN FIVE FOR 2017-18 • Deion Bute (6-9, C, Tallahassee CC) 8.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg as a sophomore...All-Panhandle Conference 2nd Team as a freshman. | Eduardo Camacho (6-1, G, Miami Christian) 2A Player of the Year...All-Dade 5A-2A 1st Team...Led Miami Christian to 2017 state title. | Joe Hugley (6-7, F, Baltimore City CC) NJCAA All-America Honorable Mention...13.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 32 blocked shots. | Tyler Kohl (6-5, G/F, Mineral College) 9.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.6 spg... 49.6 FG pct, 38.3 3fg pct...Helped Mineral to 28-3 record. | Talek Williams (6-2, G, Allen) 17.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg...Pennsylvania 6-A All-State 3rd Team...Allen Iverson Roundball Classic.
NORTHEAST CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES POLL • The NEC announced its preseason coaches poll on Oct. 25 at "Social" Media Day in Brooklyn, NY, at the Barclay's Center. Central was picked 9th in the preseason coaches poll, and interestingly the team picked 9th in the last two seasons went on to the NEC title game (Fairleigh Dickingson, 2015-16 and Saint Francis U, 2016-17). Last season's runner-up, Saint Francis U, was the unanimous choice to win the league. Complete poll (first place votes): 1. Saint Francis U (9) 2. Fairleigh Dickinson (1) 3. Wagner 4. Mount St. Mary's 5. Sacred Heart 6. LIU Brooklyn 7. Robert Morris 8. Bryant 9. Central Connecticut 10. St. Francis Brooklyn
NEHLS SHOOTS INTO THE RECORD BOOK • Junior
Austin Nehls hit his 100th career three-pointer in just 40 games. He enters the season 8th all-time at CCSU with 139 career three-pointers, just behind Ken Horton with 158. Last season, Nehls ranked 2nd in the NEC with 2.34 three-pointers per game and ranked 10th shooting .370 from the arc. The 6-3 guard started all 29 games and led the team in scoring (13.4 ppg), and minutes at a league-high 36.1 per game. Nehls had a career-high 26 points (8-14 fg, 5-10 3fg, 5-5 ft) in 40 minutes at Fordham on Dec. 21. He had four 20-point games last season.
UP NEXT • The Blue Devils return to action on Sunday, Nov. 12 with a trip to Rutgers. The 2:30 p.m. contest will be available on Big Ten Network Plus. Central will play its first four games on the road before hosting Coppin State on Nov. 21.
