Men's Basketball Tripped Up in Second Half by Merrimack, Falls 58-46

The Central Connecticut men's basketball was limited to six field goals in the second half and fell to Merrimack, 58-46, on Saturday at Detrick Gymnasium in New Britain, CT. CCSU held a four-point lead in the second half before Merrimack went on an 11-1 run to take the lead for good. The Warriors would force Central into 24 turnovers and outscored, the Blue Devils 25-6 in points off turnovers in the game. The Blue Devils fall to 1-16 overall and 0-4 in league play, while Merrimack is 9-8 overall and 3-1 in the NEC. 

Central was led in scoring by senior Jamir Coleman who had 11 points, but he was the only player in double-figures. Sophomore Ian Krishnan had nine points, while sophomore Zach Newkirk and freshman Xavier Wilson each added seven. CCSU would outrebound Merrimack, 36-26. CCSU shot 16-of-42 (.381) overall and was 5-of-16 from the three-point arc, while going 9-of-14 (.643) at the foul line.

Idris Joyner led Merrimack with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. Juvaris Hayes had nine steals as the Warriors totaled 18 as a team. Merrimack shot 17-of-48 (.354) from the floor and 8-of-23 (.348) from the arc, while going 16-of-25 (.640) at the foul line.

Central plays its next three games on the road beginning with a contest at Sacred Heart on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Central Connecticut 46, Merrimack 58
Records: CCSU (1-16, 0-4 NEC), MC (9-8, 3-1 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT

HIGHLIGHTS

KEY MOMENTS

• CCSU led 13-12 midway through the opening period. Central started the game 5-of-10 from the field, while limiting the Warriors to 5-of-17.
• Following a Merrimack layup at the 7:59 mark, CCSU would outscore the Warriors, 12-5, and built a 25-19 lead following a three-pointer by freshman Jamir Reed with 4:00 to go in the half.
• Merrimack got back-to-back three-pointers to tie the game at 25-25 with 2:52 to go in the half, but neither team would score the rest of the period. CCSU limited Merrimack to 29.0 percent shooting in the period, the lowest total by an oppent this season.
• Senior Jamir Coleman and junior Stephane Ayangma hit consecutive layups in the first 1:13 of the second half to give CCSU a 29-25 lead, but Merrimack responded with an 11-1 run, holding CCSU without a field goal for over six minutes to take a 36-30 lead.
• Central would be limited to just a pair of field goals during a span over 13 minutes, while Merrimack would extend its lead to double-figures at 52-42 with 3:47 to play. CCSU would momentarily get within eight points, but could get no closer the rest of the way.

NUMBER TO KNOW

19 - Merrimack outscored CCSU by 19 (25-6) in points off turnovers.

NOTES

• The teams were meeting for the first time since Dec. 6, 1984. Central had won six straight in the series and is 13-5 all-time against Merrimack. The meeting was the first between the schools as members of the Northeast Conference.
• Ayangma grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds and added two blocks and five points.
• Coleman finished with nine rebounds, narrowly missing his second double-double of the year.
• CCSU has outrebounded its last two opponents after being outrebounded in the first 15 games of the year.
• The Blue Devils held Merrimack to 25 points on 29 percent (9-of-31) shooting in the first half, both opponent lows for the first half this season.
• Central matched a season-high with six blocked shots. Ayangma and freshman Greg Outlaw each had two.

UP NEXT
Central plays its next three games on the road beginning with a contest at Sacred Heart on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.