Men's Basketball Drops Second Meeting to Merrimack

February 12, 2021

The Central Connecticut men's basketball team got within single digits late, but Merrimack responded with a run to pull away for a 72-52 run on Friday night in Northeast Conference basketball action at Detrick Gymnasium. The Blue Devils were within nine points with 5:16 to play, but the Warriors used an 11-0 run to hold off the threat.

Central is now 4-12 overall and 4-9 in the Northeast Conference, while Merrimack is now 8-4 overall and in first place in the NEC.

Junior Tre Mitchell had 14 points and sophomore Greg Outlaw scored 11 points to lead CCSU. The Blue Devils shot 19-of-52 (.365) overall and were 6-of-24 (.250) from three-point range. Central was 8-of-14 (.571) at the foul line.

Ziggy Reid and Mikey Watkins each had 15 points to lead four Warriors in double-figures. MC shot 24-of-48 (.500) from the field and 10-of-24 (.417) from three-point range. Merrimack went 14-of-17 (.824) at the foul line.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 52, Merrimack 72
Records: CCSU (4-12, 4-9 NEC), MC (8-4, 8-4 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

Central held a 15-12 lead with 8:56 remaining in the first half following a dunk by sophomore Xavier Wilson. The Warriors would score 10 consecutive points and held the Blue Devils to one field goal the rest of the half, a dunk by senior Stephane Ayangma with 0:20 to go, and would go into halftime with a 31-19 lead.
Merrimack scored the first eight points of the second half to go ahead 39-19 with 17:50 to play. The lead would grow to as much as 50-25 before CCSU chipped away with a late run.
CCSU tralied 54-38 before a layup by Outlaw opened a run of seven straight points. A three-pointer by junior Ian Krishnan was followed by two Outlaw foul shots to make it 54-45 with 5:16 to play.
Merrrimack would respond with 11 straight points to go ahead 65-45 and put the game out of reach. Following Krishnan's three-pointer with 5:55 to play, the Warriors' defense did not allow another CCSU field goal until 2:11 remained and Mitchell hit a three-pointer.

NUMBER TO KNOW

29 - The Blue Devils got 29 points from reserves in the game. It marked the 11th game that CCSU has gotten 25+ points from its bench this season.

NOTES

CCSU leads the all-time series, 13-8, but the Warriors have won all four meetings since joining the NEC.
Outlaw added a team-high five rebounds.
Mitchell shot 4-of-8 from three-point range and 2-of-2 at the foul line. He scored all 14 of his points in the second half.
Junior Nigel Scantlebury had five assists and just one turnover.
Senior Stephane Ayangma made his second straight start and had seven points and four rebounds.
Wilson had eight points on 4-of-5 shooting.

UP NEXT

Central hosts Sacred Heart on Wednesday, Feb. 17, in a rescheduled contest. Tip off is slated for 5:00 p.m. The game streams live and for free on NECFrontRow.com.