Men's Basketball Held Off by Robert Morris in Second Half

The Central Connecticut men's basketball team fell in a back-and-forth tussle at Robert Morris, 64-57, on Saturday at the UPMC Events Center2. The game featured nine lead changes and five ties, while freshman Jamir Reed led all scorers with a career-high 19 points. Central slips to 2-22 overall and 1-10 in the NEC, while RMU improves to 12-11 overall and 8-2 in the NEC.

Reed shot 7-of-12 from the floor and 3-of-5 from three-point range. He also grabbed nine rebounds. He was the only Blue Devil in double-figures as CCSU shot 21-of-53 (.396) as a team. They were 6-of-18 (.333) from the arc and 9-of-11 (.818) from the foul line. CCSU committed just 10 turnovers, but was outrebounded 40-30.

AJ Bramah led RMU with 11 points and 14 rebounds. The Colonials shot 21-of-51 (.412) from the field and 7-of-25 (.280) from three-point range, while going 15-of-25 (.600) at the foul line.

Central is off until Saturday, Feb. 8, when it travels to Bryant. The 4:00 p.m. tip will be televised on ESPN+.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Central Connecticut 57, Robert Morris 64
Records: CCSU (2-22, 1-10 NEC), RMU (12-11, 8-2 NEC)
Location: UPMC Events Center | Moon Township, PA

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Devils were held to two points in the opening 3:24 and trailed 10-2 before scoring 10 unanswered points in just over a minute. Sophomore Ian Krishnan and senior Tyler Rowe opened the run with back-to-back three-pointers. A layup by Krishnan capped the spurt to make it 12-10 at the 15:43 mark.
• The teams would both go scoreless for over three minutes before RMU outscored CCSU 9-2 in a three-minute span to build a 19-14 lead just over midway through the half. The Blue Devils were held without a field goal for almost 10 minutes, but managed to stay within 19-18 with 5:55 to go in the half.
• Central would score seven straight points to go ahead on a three-pointer by Reed to make it 21-19 at the 5:04 mark. CCSU held RMU scoreless for almost five minutes during that stretch. 
• RMU would lead 25-21 with 2:54 to go in the period before CCSU would score the final five points. A three-pointer by Reed was followed by a layup by freshman Ola Olamuyiwa as time expired to give Central a 26-25 lead at the intermission.
• The Blue Devils would go ahead at 35-30 on a three-pointer by freshman Greg Outlaw with 17:43 to play. The Colonials responded by scoring 11 straight points. A foul shot by Jon Williams with 13:47 left put RMU ahead 41-35.
• The teams would trade 7-0 runs, with Reed hitting a trifecta with 11:53 left to give the Blue Devils their last lead of the day at 42-41. RMU came back with seven straight, Bramah scored back-to-back layups to make it 48-42 with 10:28 to play.
• Central would cut the deficit to one point with 7:23 to play, but were unable to get closer the rest of the way.

NUMBER TO KNOW

10 - The Blue Devils committed 10 or fewer turnovers in a game for the fifth time this season. Central had just three turnovers in the second half.

NOTES

• Robert Morris leads the all-time series, 25-18, and won both meetings this season.
• The CCSU bench outscored Robert Morris, 39-29. The Blue Devils' reserves have outscored their opponents' in three straight games by a 119-44 margin.
• Central held Robert Morris to 25 points in the opening period, matching a season-low for points allowed in the first half.
• Senior Tyler Rowe added nine points, while posting personal-highs of four steals and four assists.
• Olamuyiwa played a career-high 17 minutes and had four points, two rebounds, a block, and a steal.

UP NEXT
Central is off until Saturday, Feb. 8, when it travels to Bryant. The 4:00 p.m. tip will be televised on ESPN+.