Men's Basketball Caps Alumni Day With 75-70 Win Over Bryant

The Central Connecticut men's basketball team held off Bryant, 75-70, in Northeast Conference action on Saturday at Detrick Gymnasium. In front of CCSU basketball alumni, including members of the Blue Devils' 2000 NEC championship squad, freshman Myles Baker scored a career-high 24 points and CCSU shot 53.3 percent as a team after halftime for the win. Central improves to 3-24 overall and 2-12 in the NEC, while Bryant falls to 12-14 overall and 4-9 in the NEC.

Baker shot 9-of-13 overall and was 5-of-7 from three-point range to pace CCSU as he was the only Blue Devil in double-figures. Freshman Jamir Reed grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and added seven points, four assists and two steals. Central shot 28-of-63 (.444) from the field and was 9-of-21 (.429) from the three-point arc. CCCSU was 10-of-16 (.625) at the foul line and committed just seven turnovers.

Bryant had four in double-figures, led by Michael Green III with 17. The Bulldogs shot 26-of-50 (.441) overall and just 4-of-17 (.235) from the arc, while going 14-of-20 (.700) from the foul line.

Central hosts Fairleigh Dickinson on Tuesday night for a game on ESPN3. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Central Connecticut 75, Bryant 70
Records: CCSU (3-24, 2-12 NEC), Bryant (12-14, 4-9 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• Central built a 31-22 lead late in the first half after scoring eight straight points. Reed opened the spurt with a three-pointer and Baker followed with five straight points to push the cushion to nine points with 3:42 to go in the half.
• Bryant held CCSU without a field goal over the final 3:42 of the period and outscored the Blue Devils 11-2 in that span to tie the game 33-33 at halftime.
• CCSU trailed 59-57 with 9:21 to play after a jumper by Bryant's Hall Elisias before Baker responded by scoring eight straight points. He fought for a layup in the lane with just over eight minutes to play and gave the Blue Devils a 65-59 lead.
• Bryant cut the CCSU lead to 71-70 with 2:26 remaining, but after a foul shot by sophomore Karrington Wallace made it 72-70, Reed would collect a steal and get a big defensive rebound to help protect the lead. Sophomore Ian Krishnan hit a pair of foul shots and Reed added another in the final 14 seconds to seal the victory.

COACH QUOTE

"The team wants to end the season right and build momentum," said head coach Donyell Marshall. "I think the team is using this time as a time to come together and build on it for next year."

NUMBER TO KNOW

2 - The Blue Devils were outrebounded 38-34 in the game, but only gave up seven offensive rebounds and limited Bryant to just two second chance points.

NOTES

• The teams split the season series and are now tied 18-18 in the all-time series. Bryant won the season's first meeting, 64-60, on Feb. 8, 2020.
• Reed, who scored a career-high on Thursday, was limited to just seven points, but led the team in rebounding (7), assists (4) and steals (2).
• Krishnan finished with nine points and was 3-of-4 from the field. 
• Freshman Xavier Wilson had seven points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.
• The CCSU bench outscored Bryant's, 44-39. The Blue Devils' reserves have outscored their opponents' in six straight games by a 230-119 margin.
• Across the past two games, the Blue Devils have shot 14-of-26 (.538) from three-point range in the first half. Central was 8-of-12 on three-pointers in the first half against LIU and 6-of-14 against Bryant.
• Central committed just seven turnovers and had a +4 turnover margin.
• The Blue Devils recognized basketball alumni at halftime. It is the 20th anniversary of the 2000 NEC championship squad, and Central recognized members of the team in attendance, including head coach Howie Dickenman, for the school's first NCAA Tournament team in program history.

UP NEXT
Central hosts Fairleigh Dickinson on Tuesday night for a game on ESPN3.