Men's Basketball Rally Falls Short at Bryant on Saturday

The Central Connecticut men's basketball team cut a double-figure deficit to just two points, but could not overcome Bryant and fell, 64-60, on Saturday at the Chace Athletic Center. The Blue Devils led in the early going before the Bulldogs took a lead that it pushed to 16 in the second half and held off the CCSU rally to hang on. Central slips to 2-23 overall and 1-11 in the NEC, while Bryant is now 12-12 overall and 4-7 in the league.

Sophomore Ian Krishnan led four Blue Devils in double-figures with 16 points. Senior Jamir Coleman scored all 11 of his points after halftime, while freshmen Greg Outlaw and Jamir Reed each scored 10 points.

Central shot 27-of-65 (.415) from the field and was 4-of-17 (.235) from the three-point arc. CCCSU was just 2-of-4 (.500) at the foul line and was outrebounded, 50-45.

Benson Lin led Bryant with 13 points, while Hall Elisias had 12 points. Patrick Harding grabbed 13 rebounds and Juan Cardenas had 10 boards.

Bryant was 22-of-65 (.338) from the field and just 7-of-26 (.269) from the arc. The Bulldogs were 13-of-18 (.722) at the foul line and overcame 14 turnovers, against just 11 by the Blue Devils.

Central returns to Detrick Gym to host LIU on Thursday, Feb. 13.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Central Connecticut 60, Bryant 64
Records: CCSU (2-23, 1-11 NEC), BRY (12-12, 4-7 NEC)
Location: Chace Athletic Center | Smithfield, RI

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Devils scored the first six points on a pair of buckets by sophomore Karrington Wallace and a jumper by sophomore Ian Krishnan. The Bulldogs responded with 10 unanswered points to take the lead for good. Benson Lin's three-pointer with 12:43 left in the opening period made it 10-6.
• A layup by freshman Xavier Wilson tied the game 10-10 with 9:05 left in the half, but Bryant scored a three-pointer on the next possession to take the lead for good. The Bulldogs held CCSU to one field goal in the final four minutes and would build a 31-22 lead at the break.
• Central scored the first four points of the second half before a 12-2 Bryant run opened up a 46-30 lead. A three-pointer by Adam Grant closed a run of five straight by Bryant to push the lead to 16 with 13:10 to play.
• The Blue Devils responded with nine straight points, beginning with a jumper by Outlaw. A jumper by Krishnan made it 46-39 with 9:13 to play. Central held Bryant without a field goal for almost seven minutes and a three-pointer by Krishnan made it 49-44 with 7:12 to play. Bryant would end its field goal drought with a jumper by Ikenna Ndugba with 6:26 to go.
• Senior Jamir Coleman scored all of his points in the second half and got CCSU within 58-54 with 3:44 to play. The Blue Devils would get within, 62-60, after Krishnan hit 1-of-2 foul shots with 0:10 remaining, but they could get no closer.

NUMBER TO KNOW

5 - Xavier Wilson had a career-high five blocked shots for Central. The Blue Devils had seven blocked shots as a team with senior Jamir Coleman swatted two shots.

NOTES

• Bryant leads the all-time series, 18-17. Central had won the previous two meetings at the Chace Athletic Center.
• Krishnan added three steals and two rebounds, while shooting 6-of-14 from the field.
• Outlaw went 5-of-9 from the field and added three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
• Reed and Coleman shot 5-of-8 and 5-of-9, respectively, while each grabbing a team-high six rebounds.
• Wilson added four points and five rebounds, while swatting a career-high five shots.
• Central did not attempt a foul shot in the first 30:07 of the game. CCSU finished 2-of-4 from the foul line.
• CCSU missed its first nine three-point attempts before Krishnan made one with 7:12 to play. The Blue Devils finished 4-of-17 from the arc with Krishnan hitting three three-pointers.
• The CCSU bench outscored Bryant's, 24-17. The Blue Devils' reserves have outscored their opponents' in four straight games by a 143-61 margin.
• The Blue Devils held a 36-24 advantage in scoring in the paint.

UP NEXT
Central returns to Detrick Gym to host LIU on Thursday, Feb. 13.