Men's Basketball Takes Down Stonehill in Triple Overtime

Central Connecticut outlasted first-place Stonehill, 94-90, in triple overtime on Saturday in Northeast Conference men's basketball action in New Britain, CT. The Blue Devils had five players score in double-figures and won their third straight game decided by five points or fewer.

Jay Rodgers led CCSU with a career-high 24 points to pace five players in double-digits. CCSU shot 34-of-82 (.415) from the field overall and 11-of-34 (.324) from three-point range. Central was 15-of-15 (1.000) from the foul line.

Andrew Sims led the Skyhawks with 26 points, and Maxwell Zegarowski had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Stonehill shot 34-of-78 (.436) overall and 7-of-22 (.318) from the arc. Stonehill was 15-of-19 (.789) from the foul line.

The Blue Devils travel to Merrimack on Thursday night.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 94, Stonehill 90 (3OT)
Records: CCSU (10-19, 7-7 NEC), SC (14-16, 10-5 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• Central Connecticut opened the game hitting 10 of its first 18 shots, but was unable to create separation. Stonehill would score six straight points and takes its first lead of the game to make it 30-27 with 7:13 to go in the opening period.
• A three-pointer by Joe Ostrowsky and a layup by Andre Snoddy would momentarily put Central ahead by two before Stonehill got six straight points from Josh Mack and outscored CCSU, 10-2, over a three-minute span. Rodgers would hit a layup just before halftime to make it 40-36 at the intermission.
• After an Abdul Momoh layup to open the second half, Stonehill would score six unanswered points and hold CCSU scoreless for 3:23 to take its largest lead. Maxwell Zegarowski had a layup to make it 46-38 with 15:36 to play.
• A pair of three-pointers by Nigel Scantlebury bookended a trifecta by Davonte Sweatman to make it 47-46. The Blue Devils would outscore the Skyhawks, 20-4, to take a 58-50 lead with 8:54 remaining.
• Central would lead by 66-59 with 4:50 to play before Stonehill ran off 10 straight points to go ahead by three points with 1:16 to play. Sweatman would convert a three-point play on the next possession to tie it for the Blue Devils and send the game to overtime.
• CCSU would have the final possession in each of the first two overtimes but was unable to score. In the third overtime, Stonehill led 87-86 before Rodgers scored four straight to put Central ahead three. The Skyhawks would cut the lead to one before Scantlebury hit a driving runner with 0:18 left to make it 92-89. Stonehill would make 1-of-3 at the foul line before Tre Breland had a breakaway dunk to close the game.

QUOTABLE

"Talk about a grind out, dig it out, playing with all the emotion and energy and as a group, that's what we did and how we won the game," said head coach Patrick Sellers. "You could feel it in our huddles. Everybody was locked in and said, 'We're not losing this game.' It was a team effort from everybody."

NUMBER TO KNOW

15 – CCSU went a perfect 15-of-15 at the foul line, while Stonehill was 15-of-19.

NOTES

• CCSU leads the all-time series, 27-7, and earned a split of the season series with Saturday's win.
• Central has won four straight for the first time since Jan. 13-25, 2018. CCSU has won three straight at home for the first time since Feb. 24-Dec. 18, 2018, when it won four straight.
• The Blue Devils played their first overtime of the season. It was their first triple overtime contest since a 90-82 win at Mount St. Mary's on Jan. 12, 2004.
• CCSU is .500 or better through 14 games in NEC play for the first time since 2012-13 when it was also 7-7.
• The Blue Devils also have 10 wins overall for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
• Jayden Brown played a career-high 37 minutes and scored 12 points off the bench.
• Sweatman finished with 11 points and four assists in 37 minutes.
• Kellen Amos had 12 points and six rebounds, while Scantlebury finished with 10 points, six rebounds and six assists.
• Andre Snoddy grabbed 15 rebounds and has posted eight games of 10+ boards in NEC play.

UP NEXT

The Blue Devils travel to Merrimack on Thursday night.