Men's Basketball Tops LIU, 78-64, on Thursday

February 29, 2024

The Central Connecticut men's basketball team sailed to a 78-64 win over LIU in Northeast Conference action on Thursday night in New Britain, CT. The Blue Devils had four players score in double-figures, including Jordan Jones who became the 40^th player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau in the game.

The Blue Devils have already clinched a NEC Tournament Quarterfinal home game on Wednesday, March 6. Tickets are available at CCSUBlueDevils.com/Tickets2023. CCSU would also host a semifinal contest should it advance.

Jones was one of three Blue Devils with 17 points, along with Kellen Amos and Allan Jeanne-Rose. Joe Ostrowski added 11 points. CCSU shot 27-of-55 (..491) overall and 8-of-18 (.444) from three-point range. The Blue Devils were 16-of-30 (.533) at the foul line.

Eric Acker scored 13 points to pace LIU. The Sharks shot 26-of-66 (.394) overall and 3-of-13 (.321) on three-pointers. The Sharks were 9-of-17 (.529) at the foul line.

The Blue Devils host Stonehill for Senior Day on Saturday to close the regular season.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE

Score: CCSU 78, LIU 64
Records: CCSU (18-10, 12-3 NEC), LIU (7-21, 6-10 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

CCSU raced out of the gates, scoring the opening six points, including four by Jones. The Blue Devils led 11-6 before the Sharks went on a 9-0 run. LIU went ahead 21-15 with six unanswered points to take its largest lead of the night. The six-point run was capped by a Jason Steele three-pointer to make it 21-15 with 8:30 to go.
Central would outscore LIU, 11-2, over the next 5:21 and take the lead heading into halftime. A jumper by Tre Breland tied the game at 23 before a Kellen Amos three-pointer gave the Blue Devils a three-point lead with 4:10 to go in the half. CCSU led by as much as 32-27 following a Jordan Jones layup, but the Sharks would make it a three-point game at the intermission.
Amos scored Central's first five points of the second half and the Central lead grew to 43-36 after a three-pointer by Allan Jeanne-Rose. The Blue Devils would make 5-of-6 from the field to open the second half and pushed lead to double-figures after a three-point play by Jeanne-Rose made it 48-36 with 15:18 to play.
The Sharks would score six straight, including back-to-back baskets by CJ Delancy to get within 48-42 with 12:56 to play, but that was as close as they would get the rest of the way. A three-pointer by Joe Ostrowsky pushed the Blue Devils lead to 56-44 midway through the half. The CCSU led grew to as large as 71-52 before settling at the final margin.

NUMBER TO KNOW

58.3 – The Blue Devils were 14-of-24 shooting in the second half and outscored the Sharks, 46-35.

NOTES

The Shark lead the all-time series, 30-25, but CCSU has won the past five matchups and swept the season series each of the past two campaigns.
Jones finished the game 5-of-9 from the field and added four assists, a steal, and a blocked shot.
Amos had 10 of his points in the opening half, while shooting 6-of-11 in the game.
Jeanne-Rose added six rebounds, three assists and a steal.
Ostrowsky matched a personal-best with three trifectas, while adding four rebounds and two steals.
CCSU improved to 7-0 in NEC play when scoring the game's first points.
Central has won 18 games for the first time since 2010-11 (19-12).

UP NEXT

The Blue Devils host Stonehill for Senior Day on Saturday to close the regular season.

Follow @CCSUBlueDevils on Twitter and CCSUBlueDevils.com for updates.