Men's Basketball Pushes Sacred Heart Before Falling Late

The Central Connecticut men's basketball got within four points late in the second half before Sacred Heart held off the charge and won 66-55 on Wednesday at the Pitt Center in Fairfield, CT. Sophomore Ian Krishnan led the Blue Devils with 10 points, while freshman Myles Baker had seven points and helped lead CCSU's charge in the second half. CCSU fall to 1-17 overall and 0-5 in league play, while SHU is 10-7 overall and 3-1 in the NEC. 

Krishnan was the only scorer in double-figures, but all 10 Blue Devils in the game scored at least two points. Central finished 21-of-55 (.382) from the field and was 3-of-10 (.300) from three-point range. CCSU went 10-of-12 (.833) at the foul line.

E.J. Anosike led SHU with 21 points and 14 rebounds. The Pioneers went 23-of-63 (.365) from the field and was just 4-of-20 (.200) from the arc. SHU was 16-of-29 (.552) at the foul line and outrebounded CCSU 51-29.

Central next heads to Mount St. Mary's for a Saturday game at 4:00 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Central Connecticut 66, Sacred Heart 55
Records: CCSU (1-17, 0-5 NEC), SHU (10-7, 3-1 NEC)
Location: Pitt Center | Fairfield, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• Sophomore Karrington Wallace got CCSU with 18-14 at the 8:40 mark, before the Pioneers responded with seven straight points. A foul shot by E.J. Anosike put SHU ahead, 25-14 with 4:48 to go in the half.
• A jumper by freshman Jamir Reed ended a scoring drought of 4:52 for Central. SHU came back with six straight points to take its largest lead of the period at 31-16 with 2:13 to play in the period.
• The Blue Devils scored the final four points of the half on a layup by freshman Xavier Wilson and two foul shots by sophomore Thai Segwai to make it 33-22 at the intermission.
• Freshman Myles Baker hit a three-pointer and senior Jamir Coleman hit a jumper to get Central within 50-44 with 9:08 to play, but Sacred Heart would outscore CCSU 7-2 over a 4:20 span to push the lead back to double-figures.
• Five straight points by Baker made it a two-possession game after his three-pointer with 3:39 to play cut it to 57-51. A layup by freshman Jamir Reed got Central within 57-53 before Anosike ended a thre-minute scoring drought for the Pioneers to push the lead back to six and a three-pointer by Kinnon LaRose with 1:00 left pushed the lead to 62-53.

NUMBER TO KNOW

17 - CCSU was outscored, 21-4, in second chance points.

NOTES

• CCSU leads the all-time series, 37-30. SHU has won nine straight matchups, with Central last winning on Feb. 21, 2015.
• The Blue Devils were playing their first of three games in an eight-day span.
• CCSU was 0-of-4 on three-pointers in the first half, while SHU was just 2-of-10 from the arc in the opening period. Central hit 3-of-6 in the second half, while SHU was just 2-of-9.
• Wallace (4-of-4) and Krishnan (3-of-3) were both perfect at the line for Central.
• Coleman led CCSU with five rebounds to go with six points. 
• Reed had a team-high three assists with six points.
• CCSU's bench outscored SHU, 21-7.

UP NEXT
Central heads to Mount St. Mary's on Saturday for a 4:00 p.m. tip off.