Men's Basketball Falls to Wagner on Thursday

February 25, 2021

Central Connecticut couldn't keep pace with Wagner in the second half and fell 83-63 in Northeast Conference men's basketball action at Detrick Gymnasium. The Blue Devils were within seven at halftime, but the Seahawks built a double-digit lead in the opening four minutes and would not allow CCSU to get closer.

Central is now 4-16 overall and 4-13 in the Northeast Conference, while Wagner won its 10th straight to improve to 11-5 overall and 11-4 in the NEC.

The Blue Devils had five players score in double-figures and all seven players who saw action would score in the game. Senior Stephane Ayangma and junior Nigel Scantlebury each had 12 points to lead CCSU. Ayangma added a team-high nine rebounds. The Blue Devils shot 22-of-62 (.355) overall and 5-of-24 (.208) from three-point range. Central was 14-of-19 (.737) from the foul line.

Alex Morales (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Elijah Ford (16 points, 10 rebounds) both had double-doubles for Wagner. The Seahawks shot 35-of-69 (.507) overall and 7-of-18 (.389) from the arc, while going 6-of-6 (1.000) from the foul line.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 63, Wagner 83
Records: CCSU (4-16, 4-13 NEC), WAG (10-5, 10-4 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

Wagner would not trail in the game, but the Blue Devils would keep the game close in the opening half. A quick spurt of six straight points would get Central within a basket with 4:57 left in the period. A pair of foul shots by junior Tre Mitchell and a jumper by junior Ian Krishnan was followed by a dunk from sophomore Xavier Wilson to make it 27-25. A three-point play by Ayangma with 3:03 to go would trim the deficit to 29-28, but the Seahawks would close the half with six straight points to go ahead 37-30 at halftime.
The Blue Devils fell behind 46-34 with 17:29 to play following a layup by Ford. The bucket was part of a 15-4 run that spanned both halves and put the Seahawks ahead by double-digits for good. Central would score eight straight with 13:01 remaining after Scantlebury and junior Zach Newkirk hit three-pointers around a pair of foul shots by junior Karrington Wallace to make it 61-46 but the Seahawks would not allow the game to get closer.

NUMBER TO KNOW

2 - The Blue Devils had just two turnover sin the first half and would finish the game with just 11, its second-fewest in a game this season.

NOTES

Wagner leads the all-time series, 31-20.
Central got points from every player who played in the game for the third straight contest and the seventh time on the season.
Ayangma was 5-of-11 from the field and has scored in double-figures in four straight games.
Scantlebury was 4-of-11 and added four assists.
Wilson shot 5-of-7 to score in double-figures for the second game in a row.
Wallace had 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting to go with six rebounds and three assists.

UP NEXT

The teams meet to close out the regular season on Friday at 4:00 p.m. The game will stream live and for free on NECFrontRow.com.