Men's Basketball Held Off by Maine on Wednesday

The Central Connecticut men's basketball was held at bay against Maine, falling 66-58 on Wednesday at Detrick Gymnasium. The Blue Devils managed to chip away at a double-digit deficit to tie the game with 10:53 to play before the Black Bears were able to regain the lead and hold on for the road victory.

Kellen Amos led CCSU with 13 points and six rebounds, while Davonte Sweatman and Jayden Brown both chipped in 11 points apiece. CCSU shot 22-of-47 (.468)) from the field and 9-of-21 (.421) from three-point range. CCSU was just 5-of-12 (.417) at the foul line.

Gedi Juozapaitis and Kellen Tynes scored 24 points and 23 points, respectively, to lead Maine. The Black Bears shot 26-of-55 (.473) overall and 5-of-20 (.250) from three-point range. Maine was 9-of-11 (.818) at the foul line.

The Blue Devils travel to Rutgers on Saturday.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 58, Maine 66
Records: CCSU (0-6), Maine (4-1)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• Both teams got hot starts shooting, going a combined 12-of-17 from the field. Jouzapaitis made his first five shots from the field in the opening six minutes and put Maine ahead, 19-10 with a three-pointer just 5:38 into the game. Cetral made its first four three-pointers of the game, but was hampered by turnovers and the Black Bears would take advantage by building a lead as much as 34-20 in the first half.
• CCSU would not commit a turnover in the final four minutes of the half and would score eight straight as part of a 10-2 run to close the period. A three-pointer by Amos would close the 8-0 spurt to get CCSU within 34-28 with 2:01 left in the opening half. Following a Maine basket, Jayden Brown would score a layup in the lane just before the break to get the Blue Devils within 36-30 at intermission.
• The Blue Devils missed their first five shots of the second half and Maine would nudge its lead to double-figures following a Tynes layup with 17:42 to play. Joe Ostrowsky book-ended a Jayden Brown three-pointer with a three-pointer of his own and a layup to spur eight straight Blue Devils points in a 2:30 span to trim the deficit to one possession. Central would eventually tie the game with 12:32 remaining after Brown scored five straight points to tie the game at 45-45.
• Sweatman would convert a layup to make it 47-47 midway through the second half, but the Black Bears would respond with six straight points. Tynes had a pair of layups off turnovers in the spurt and made it 53-47 with 8:45 to play.
• The Blue Devils managed to get back within two points with 1:42 to play. Amos, who scored five straight points for CCSU, hit a three-pointer to make it 60-58 with just under two minutes to play. That was as close as CCSU would get however as the Black Bears would get four foul shots from Tynes and a steal and layup by Juozapaitis to close out the game.

QUOTABLE

"We made an adjustment in the middle of the first half with our ball screen coverage," said head coach Patrick Sellers. "That, along with not turning the ball over, and we started guarding them. Our defense was a lot better in the second part of the first half, but it was the turnovers. When you turn the ball over that much, there is nothing you can do."

NUMBER TO KNOW

20 – Central committed a season-high 20 turnovers and was outscored, 32-16, on points off turnovers.

NOTES

• Maine leads the all-time series, 12-7.
• Amos hit three three-pointers, his third game of the season with three or more treys.
• Sweatman scored in double-figures for the third straight game.
• Jayden Brown scored a season-high 11 points, while adding a career-high three assists.
• Joe Ostrowsky started his second straight game and had a career-high four steals, while adding four assists and eight points.
• Abdul Momoh had five blocked shots, which was the most by a Blue Devil since Feb. 8, 2020.

UP NEXT

The Blue Devils travel to Rutgers on Saturday.