Men's Basketball Outrun by Bryant on Thursday.

A short-handed Central Connecticut men's basketball team was unable to keep up with Bryant on Thursday and fell by a score of 93-68 at the Chace Athletics Center in Northeast Conference action. The Bulldogs shot 59 percent from the field in the opening half to build a lead it would not give up.

Central slips to 2-6 overall and 2-3 in NEC play, while Bryant improves to 8-2 overall and 4-1 in the NEC

Bryant raced out to a 16-1 lead and led throughout the day. The Bulldogs would lead by as much as 82-50 in the second half and controlled the pace much of the game.

Sophomore Greg Outlaw led the Blue Devils with 18 points. He added five rebounds and two steals. Junior Zach Newkirk added a career-high 11 points and junior Nigel Scantlebury chipped in with 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds. 

CCSU shot 28-of-71 (.394) from the field and was 9-of-28 (.321) from three-point range. Central was 3-of-4 at the foul line, while Bryant was 15-of-20. CCSU did force 19 Bryant turnovers.

Chris Childs led four Bulldogs in double-figures with 20 points off the bench. Peter Kiss added a triple-double with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. The Bulldogs shot 34-of-69 (.493) from the field and was 10-of-26 (.385) from three-point range. Bryant outrebounded CCSU, 50-31.

The teams meet again on Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 68, Bryant 93
Records: CCSU (2-6, 2-3 NEC), BRY (8-2, 4-1 NEC)
Location: Chace Athletics Center | Smithfield, RI

KEY MOMENTS

• Bryant scored the first five points of the game and built an early 18-3 lead, holding CCSU without a field goal in the opening five-plus minutes of the game, as the Blue Devils missed their first seven shots of the game.
• The Bulldog lead pushed out to 30-14 midway through the first half after seven straight points and forced a CCSU timeout. Central started just 1-of-6 from three-point range, while Bryant was 5-for-8 from the arc. 
• Sophomore Greg Outlaw hit back-to-back three-pointers late in the first half, but Bryant would close the half on a 10-2 run to take a 52-28 lead into halftime.
• CCSU would score seven straight points and held Bryant scoreless for nearly three minutes to trim the deficit to 57-37 early in the second half.
• Central would hold Bryant to a 1-of-6 shooting stretch nd got within 66-48 after a jumper by Outlaw midway through the second half. Bryant would respond with 12 straight points as part of a 16-2 run to extend its lead to 82-50 and hold off the CCSU threat. The Blue Devils went scoreless for almost four minutes and shot 1-of-8 during the stretch.

QUOTABLE

"As coaches, we will have to make adjustments. With these games [back-to-back days], the teams that have been making adjustments the best, have been coming out and winning that second game. For us, it will be about watching film and making adjustments, as well as our energy and focus," said head coach Donyell Marshall on preparing for the games on back-to-back days.

NUMBER TO KNOW

7 - CCSU missed its first seven shots of the game as Bryant built an 18-3 lead and held the Blue Devils without a field goal for five-plus minutes to begin the game.

NOTES

• Bryant now leads the all-time series 19-18. The teams have split the series the last two seasons heading into Friday's contest.
• CCSU has gone 1-1 this season in the second game of the NEC back-to-back meetings.
• Central has recorded at least 16 assists in four straight games.
• Outlaw shot 8-for-17 in the game, while Newkirk was 5-for-9 and Scantlebury for 4-of-9. 
• Senior Stephane Ayangma started and finished 2-of-2 from the field (6 points) and grabbed four rebounds. Sophomore Ola Olamuyiwa saw his first action of the season and had two points and a rebound.
• The Blue Devils dressed nine players in the game and each of them scored a field goal in the contest.
• Bryant's 52 points and 58.8 percent shooting from the floor in the first half were both season-high marks by CCSU opponents in the opening period.

UP NEXT

The teams will play again on Friday at 4:00 p.m.