Men's Basketball Eases by LIU, 58-42, on Sunday

The Central Connecticut men's basketball team cruised to a 58-42 win over LIU in Northeast Conference action in Brooklyn, NY, on Sunday. The Blue Devils the game wire-to-wire and ended a three-game slide with the victory. 

Kellen Amos collected his sixth 20-point outing of the season, pouring in a game-high 22 points. Andre Snoddy posted his second straight double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. CCSU shot 25-of-57 (.439) from the field overall and 3-of-19 (.158) from three-point range. Central was 5-of-7 (.714) from the foul line. 

The Sharks were led by Jacob Johnson's 12 points. LIU was 16-of-56 (.286) from the field overall and just 2-of-11 (.182) from the arc. The Sharks shot 8-of-11 (.727)  from the foul line. 

The Blue Devils are back in action when they return home to host Merrimack on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. 

GAME INFORMATION 
Score: CCSU 58,  LIU 42
Records: CCSU (5-16, 3-4 NEC), LIU (2-18, 0-8 NEC) 
Location: Steinberg Wellness Center | Brooklyn, NY 

KEY MOMENTS 

• CCSU would open the game by outscoring LIU, 9-2, in the opening 3:28. The Sharks would momentarily cut the deficit to just three points, but Central would use a spurt of seven unanswered points to build a 16-6 lead. The Blue Devils defense held LIU scoreless for over four minutes during the run that gave the visitors control of the game.
• Central held LIU to a 1-for-10 shooting stretch to close the first half. The Sharks missed their first five three-pointers of the game until Marko Maletic connected with 3:50 left in the half. CCSU would respond with eight straight points, seven of them coming from Amos, to build a 34-18 lead at the break. 
• The CCSU defense helped set the tone for the second half, forcing LIU into three misses to open the period and the Blue Devils would push the lead to 18 points on a jumper by Abdul Momoh. Central would not allow its lead to slip below 14 points in the second half enroute to winning its third straight over LIU.

QUOTABLE 

"Today was a total determined team effort, " said head coach Patrick Sellers. "Andre Snoddy has been tremendous for us and his energy, intensity and rebounding really set the tone for us today. That really got Kellen [Allen] going and we were able to get a solid road win with our team defense." 

NUMBER TO KNOW 

42 –  The 42 points allowed by CCSU this season and the first time the Blue Devils have allowed fewer than 50 points since a 56-47 win at Hartford on Dec. 6, 2014.

NOTES 

• Central has won the past three meetings in the series, but LIU holds an all-time 30-24 edge. 
• CCSU allowed its fewest points since a 60-34 win over Bryant on Feb. 4, 2010.
• Amos rebounded from four-point outing at Wagner by shooting 9-for-19 from the field. He hit a trio of three-pointers and had a pair of highlight reel dunks. He added four rebounds, two assists and a steal.
• Snoddy is averaging a double-double in conference play at 10.0 points and 11.3 rebounds. He was 6-of-9 from the field in Sunday's game.
• Nigel Scantlebury had a game-high eight assists to go with four points.
• Abdul Momoh, the NEC's leading shot-blocker, had two blocks.
• LIU's 28.6 shooting percentage is an opponent season-low against CCSU.

UP NEXT 

The Blue Devils are back in action when they return home to host Merrimack on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.