Balanced Effort Carries Men's Basketball by Wagner, 86-76

The Central Connecticut men's basketball had a balanced team effort in collecting its first Northeast Conference win the of the season with an 86-76 victory over Wagner on Saturday at Detrick Gymnasium. Sophomore Ian Krishnan led four Blue Devils in double-figures with 18 points, while freshman Jamir Reed had 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists. CCSU goes to 2-20 overall and 1-8 in league play, while Wagner is 5-14 overall and 2-6 in the NEC.

Sophomore Karrington Wallace had a career-high 13 points with seven rebounds and four blocked shots. Senior Tyler Rowe added a career-high 12 points with four assists. Central shot 30-of-68 (.441) overall and was 11-of-24 (.453) from three-point range. CCSU was 15-of-21 (.714) at the foul line and had 20 assists against just seven turnovers.

Curtis Cobb had 21 points to lead Wagner, while Patrick Szpir, Alex Morales and Elijah Ford all had double-doubles. Wagner shot 27-of-68 (.397) overall and was 3-of-11 (.273) from the arc. The Sehawks were 19-of-29 (.655) from the foul line and outrebounded CCSU, 51-37, but were outscored 24-23 on second-chance points.

CCSU travels to Saint Francis U on Thursday night for a 7:00 p.m. tip off.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Central Connecticut 86, Wagner 76
Records: CCSU (2-20, 1-8 NEC), Wagner (5-14, 2-6 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT

COACH QUOTE

"The team played for each other today and the ball didn't stick," said head coach Donyell Marshall. "We had 20 assists to seven turnovers, that's the first thing that stands out. Above all else, we had energy. The bench was up, loud and we had a lot of energy."

KEY MOMENTS

• CCSU took an 18-9 lead early in the early going with nine straight points. Back-to-back three-pointers by Krishnan made it 18-9 at the 11:49 mark.
• Wagner scored 14 unanswered points, holding Central scoreless for almost five minutes, to take a 34-29 lead after a layup by Ford. The Seahawks would hold a 36-31 lead at the intermission.
• Central scored the first six points of the second half and took a 37-36 lead on a steal and layup by freshman Greg Outlaw.
• The Blue Devils trailed 47-44 at the first media timeout of the second half. A three-pointer by Rowe would tie the game with 13:47 to play and a foul shot by Reed with 12:55 to play put CCSU ahead for good at 48-47.
• The Seahawks got within 74-72 with 2:15 to play, but the CCSU defense would not allow another field goal and the Blue Devils went 6-of-7 from the foul line in the final minute to ice the game.

NUMBER TO KNOW

7 - The Blue Devils committed a season-low seven turnovers, while combining for 20 assists as a team.

NOTES

• Wagner leads the all-time series, 29-20, but the Blue Devils win was their first in 10 meetings dating back to Jan. 24, 2015.
• Krishnan hit five three-pointers in the first half, matching his season-high. He finished with a team-high 18 points.
• Reed scored a career-high while matching personal-bests in rebounds and assists.
• The Blue Devils rallied from a halftime deficit for the first time in 2019-20.
• Central had four double-digit scorers for the second time this season.
• CCSU was 18-of-35 (.514) from the field after halftime.
• The CCSU bench outscored Wagner's, 41-11. In addition to Rowe and Reed coming off the bench, freshman Myles Baker had eight points, five rebounds and three assists.

UP NEXT
CCSU travels to Saint Francis U on Thursday night for a 7:00 p.m. tip off.