Men's Basketball Topples Wagner on Senior Day, 83-77

February 26, 2021

The Central Connecticut men's basketball team ended the season on a high note by snapping Wagner's 10-game win streak with a 83-77 victory on Friday in Northeast Conference men's basketball action at Detrick Gymnasium. CCSU got a career-high 20 points from senior Stephane Ayangma, who was honored before his final home game for the Blue Devils. Central held Wagner to 38.9 percent shooting in the second half and outscored them 43-36 to grab the win.

Central closes the season with a 5-16 overall record and 5-13 in the Northeast Conference, while Wagner slips to 11-6 overall and 11-5 in the NEC.

Ayangma led three Blue Devils in double-figures and added a team-high eight rebounds. Junior Zach Newkirk chipped in 19 points and classmate Ian Krishnan added 16 points. The Blue Devils shot 26-of-55 (.473) overall and 10-of-21 (.476) from three-point range. CCSU was 21-of-26 (.808) at the foul line.

Alex Moraleshad a game-high 29 points along with nine rebounds and Elijah Ford added 13 points and nine rebounds. The Seahawks shot 32-of-69 (.464) from the floor and were just 3-of-20 (.150) from the arc. Wagner was 10-of-14 (.714) at the foul line.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 83, Wagner 77
Records: CCSU (5-16, 5-13 NEC), WAG (10-6, 10-5 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

Ayangma and sophomore Xavier Wilson combined for CCSU's first nine points and a Newkirk layup put the Blue Devils up four in the early going. The Seahawks would score eight straight points as part of a 12-3 run to take its largest lead of the game at 34-25 after a Morales layup with 5:16 to go in the half. The Blue Devils ended the spurt with back-to-back three-pointers from junior Tre Mitchell and Krishnan to open a 10-2 run that cut the deficit to 36-35.
After three foul shots by Krishnan tied the game at 38-38, Atiba Taylor hit a three-pointer with 0:56 to go in the half. Wyangma would convert a layup with 30 seconds left in the half to make it 41-40 at the intermission.
The Blue Devils took the lead on back-to-back baskets by Newkirk to go ahead 47-44 with 16:44 to play. The Blue Devils would hold Wagner without a field goal for almost five minutes in the second half and built a six-point margin. A layup by Ayangma would make it 68-62 with 5:24 to play before a Morales layup with 4:20 left and a Nigel Jackson three-pointer made it a one-point game.
A Delonnie Hunt layup tied the game at 71-71, but a three-pointer by Krishnan on the next possession gave CCSU the lead for good with 1:06 to play. The Blue Devils would go 9-of-10 from the foul line in the final minute to push the lead to as much as 83-75 before a Morales layup closed out the scoring.

NUMBER TO KNOW

5 - Ayangma scored double-figures in each of the last five games of the year, capped off with his career-best night in Friday's win.

NOTES

Wagner leads the all-time series, 31-21, but the teams have split the last four meetings.
Central got points from every player who played in the game for the fourth straight contest and the eighth time on the season.
Ayangma was 8-of-14 from the field and 2-for-5 on three-pointers. He added two steals.
Newkirk was 8-for-8 from the foul line and 5-for-10 from the field.
Krishnan was 3-of-5 on three-pointers and 7-of-10 at the foul line.
Junior Karrington Wallace had three blocked shots in the game.
CCSU reserves contributed 20 points, marking th 16th game this season they have chipped in 20+ points.
Friday marked the fifth game this season that CCSU has connected on 10+ three-pointers in a game.