Men's Basketball Falls at Oregon State in Non-Conference Finale

The Central Connecticut State men's basketball team fell at Oregon State in its final non-conference tune-up on Saturday, 80-59, at Gill Coliseum. The Blue Devils were led by junior Jamir Coleman who scored 16 points.

CCSU slipped to 6-7 overall, while Oregon State moved to 8-4.

The Blue Devils begin Northeast Conference play on Thursday, Jan. 3, when they host Wagner.

The Blue Devils were stymied during a nearly nine-minute stretch in the first half that the Beavers used to pull away and build a comfortable lead that it would hold throughout.

Back-to-back three-pointers by freshman Ian Krishnan and junior Jamir Coleman gave CCSU an early 8-5 lead before Ethan Thompsan ran off five straight points for the Beavers to make it 10-8 with 15:41 to go in the opening half and give the hosts the lead for good.. 

Thompson ignited a 31-2 run, which included 24 unanswered points, as the Beavers held the Blue Devils scoreless for 8:52 and built a 26-10 lead following three straight baskets by Stephen Thompson, Jr. The lead would grow to 36-10 with 5:52 to go in the period.

Senior Tyler Kohl would end the Blue Devils scoring drought with a foul shot and Coleman would follow with a steal and layup to end Central's field goal drought with 4:56 to go in the half. Freshman Karrington Wallace would flush a pair of dunks for the Blue Devils and a layup by junior Joe Hugley would help trim the deficit to end the half.

Central would shoot just 8-of-33 (.242) in the opening period, while Oregon State was 18-of-25 (.720) from the field and outrebounded CCSU 25-9 and built a 40-21 lead at the intermission.

Wallace would score five straight for CCSU at one point and Coleman would hit a runner to get CCSU within 74-52. 

CCSU would hold OSU scoreless over the final 2:34 and junior Tyson Batiste came up with a steal and layup just before the end of the game for the final score.

Coleman was the only Blue Devil in double-figures. Wallace added nine points, while Batiste and Hugley each had seven points. 

Central was 21-of-64 (.328) from the field overall, but was 14-of-19 (.723) from the foul line. 

Tres Tinkle led four Beavers in double-figures with 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds. OSU shot 25-of-51 (.490) for the game and was 25-of-29 (.862) at the foul line.

Central opens Northeast Conference play at Detrick Gymnasium on Thursday, Jan. 3, when it hosts Wagner.