Men's Basketball Falls to UConn
The Blue Devils will return to action on Dec. 31 against Hofstra.
The Central Connecticut men's basketball team fell to the UConn Huskies at the XL Center in Hartford on Sunday afternoon. The Blue Devils were tied with the defending National Champions through the game's first 10 minutes, but UConn opened a 12-point lead at the half and then pulled away for the 81-48 victory. The Blue Devils fall to 2-10 on the season, while the Huskies improve to 6-4.
In the first half, UConn opened up a 13-7 lead following the game's first media timeout, but CCSU quickly answered with a 9-2 run to take a 16-15 lead with 12:52 left in the half. Sophomore Khalen Cumberlander started the run and then junior Brandon Peel scored seven straight points to give CCSU the lead.
The Huskies answered with five straight points, including three free throws for Ryan Boatright.
CCSU tied the score again following the second media timeout as junior Corey Barrett worked his way to the basket and scored on a pair of layups. Barrett's second basket tied the game at 20-20 with 10:04 left in the period.
However, the Huskies quickly broke the tie with a three pointer by Omar Calhoun on the ensuing possession.
Following Calhoun's three, the Blue Devils held UConn off the board for nearly four minutes and to just four points over a stretch of six minutes, but the Blue Devils were also unable to score.
UConn would outscore the Blue Devils 15-3 over the final 10 minutes of the first half to take a 35-23 lead into the break. The Huskies would extend the run to 37-5 before CCSU's first field goal of the second half.
Senior Greg Andrade led all players with 10 points in the first half. He was four-of-four shooting from the field and was two-of-two from behind the arc.
Five UConn players scored in double figures led by Ryan Boatright with 18.
Andrade led CCSU with 13 points, while Barrett was CCSU's leading rebounder with seven.
The score was tied six times and the lead changed hands on five occasions, but UConn led for the entire second half.
The Blue Devils shot 31.5% (17-54) from the floor and 27.3% (3-11) from beyond the arc in the game. The Huskies were 53.3% (32-60) form the field and 26.3% (5-19) from three.
UConn also controlled the boards with a 42-28 advantage on the glass.
The Blue Devils return to action at home on Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. hosting Hofstra. The game is the final non-conference game of the season for the men's team.