Men's Basketball Falls Short at UMass Lowell, 73-71
Central returns to Detrick Gymnasium to host Maine on Dec. 7.
The Central Connecticut men's basketball team fell at UMass Lowell in the final minute, 73-71, on Sunday at the Tsongas Center. Obadiah Noel hit the game-winning layup with five seconds to play and the Blue Devils were unable to get off a shot in the final possession. Central freturns to Detrick Gymnasium to host Maine on Dec. 7.
Senior Jamir Coleman scored 27 points to match a career-high and lead all scorers, while freshman Greg Outlaw added a personal-best 16 points. Central shot 31-of-60 (.533) from the floor in the game and was 5-of-14 (.357) from the arc, but was just 4-of-7 at the foul line.
Noel was one of four River Hawks in double-figures with 16 points. UML shot 26-of-59 (.441) from the floor and was 6-of-19 (.316) from three-point range. UMass Lowell was 15-of-22 at the foul line.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Central Connecticut 71, UMass Lowell 73
Records: CCSU (0-8), UML (4-5)
Location: Tsongas Center | Lowell, MA
KEY MOMENTS
- Junior Jamir Coleman scored Central's first seven points and CCSU took an early 11-6 lead with a 6-0 run just under four minutes into the game.
- UMass Lowell held CCSU scoreless for over 5:00 and scored 12 straight points as part of a 14-2 run to take a 20-13 lead midway through the first half.
- Central responded with a 9-0 run, sparked by back-to-back buckets from freshman Greg Outlaw to regain the lead at 22-20.
- The River Hawks would retake the lead, outscoring CCSU during a 9-2 stretch, but a spinning layup by junior Stephane Ayangma got the Blue Devils within 38-35 at the half.
- Central hit 5-of-6 shots to open the second half and the teams went back-and-forth for much of the period. An 8-0 run late in the half by UML gave the River Hawks a 67-62 lead with under 4:00 to play.
- The Blue Devils took a 71-70 lead with 0:42 to play after outscoring UML, 7-3, in a 1:35 span.
NUMBER TO KNOW
19 - The game had 19 lead changes and 10 ties, with the last lead changing coming with five seconds to play.
NOTES
- Central has gone 3-2 against UMass Lowell since the 2003-04 season. The teams have met in each of the last five seasons, with CCSU winning the previous two matchups before Sunday.
- Coleman scored 15 points (7-9 field goals) in the opening half, the highest-scoring half by any Blue Devil this season. Coleman finished 12-of-16 from the field to match a personal-best 27 points.
- Outlaw finished with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting. He added two steals and two blocks.
- Freshman Xavier Wilson had three blocks and three steals, along with a team-high seven rebounds.
- Ayangma and freshman Jamir Reed each added eight points, while freshman Myles Baker had a pair of three-pointers.
- CCSU shot 53.3 percent (16-30) from the field in the first half, the best shooting half by Central this season.
- CCSU committed just 12 turnovers, but was outrebounded 40-29.
UP NEXT
Central returns home on Saturday, Dec. 7, to host Maine in a 1:00 p.m. tip.
