Men's Basketball Falls at Fairleigh Dickinson, 83-60

The Central Connecticut men's basketball fell at Fairleigh Dickinson in Northeast Conference play, 83-60, on Monday at the Rothman Center. Freshman Xavier Wilson matched a career-high with 12 points to pace three Blue Devils in double-figures. CCSU fall to 1-19 overall and 0-7 in league play, while FDU is 4-13 overall and 2-4 in NEC play.

Sophomore Ian Krishnan added 11 points, while freshman Myles Baker had 10 for CCSU wwhich shot 21-of-60 (.350) overall. The Blue Devils were 6-of-22 (.273) from the arc and 12-of-21 (.571) at the foul line.

Xzavier Malone-Key led all scorers with 23 points. The Knights were 31-of-58 (.534) overall and 11-of-22 (.500) from the arc. FDU shot 53.8 percent overall (14-of-26) and was 8-of-13 (.615) from the arc in the first period to bubild a double-digit lead. FDU outrebounded CCSU, 42-36

Central is back at home on Thursday, Jan. 23, when it hosts Sacred Heart in a 7:00 p.m. game.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Central Connecticut 60, Fairleigh Dickinson 83
Records: CCSU (1-19, 0-7 NEC), FDU (4-13, 2-4 NEC)
Location: Rothman Center | Hackensack, NJ

KEY MOMENTS

• Central led 13-9 after a layup by freshman Xavier Wilson, but the Knights would outscore the Blue Devils, 18-4, over an eight-minute span. The lead for FDU grew to 26-15 after an 11-0 run capped off by eight straight from Devon Dunn with 6:59 to go in the half.
• Senior Jamir Coleman would account for six straight points for the Blue Devils and his two foul shots with 2:41 to go in the half would cut the CCSU deficit to single digits. The Knights would push the lead back to double-digits and lead at the intermission, 40-29.
• The CCSU deficit grew to 18 points early in the second half before a quick 6-1 run cut the FDU lead to 50-37 after a three-pointer by freshman Jamir Reed. 
• The Blue Devils scored four straight on a layup by junior Stephane Ayangma and a layup by freshman Xavier Wilson to get within 59-49 midway through the half. The Knights came back with five straight and the lead eventually grew to 67-51 after a three-pointer by Xzavier Malone-Key and Central would be unable to get any closer. The Knights would close the game, scoring the final six points to settle the final score.

NUMBER TO KNOW

10 - Central had 10 steals in the game, its third contest with 10+ steals this season.

NOTES

• FDU leads the all-time series, 27-19. CCSU last won in the series on Jan. 10, 2019, defeating the Knights 103-96 in double-overtime at the Rothman Center.
• Wilson was 5-of-9 from the floor and 1-of-2 from three-point range.
• Junior Stephane Ayangma grabbed a team-high eight rebounds to go with seven points.
• Four Blue Devils had two steals with sophomore Zach Newkirk and freshman Jamir Reed each matching personal-highs with two.
• CCSU forced FDU into 15 turnovers but managed to convert those into just four points.

UP NEXT
Central is back at home on Thursday, Jan. 23, when it hosts Sacred Heart.