Men's Basketball Downed by Merrimack on Thursday Night

The Central Connecticut men's basketball team slumped to a 62-46 loss to Merrimack on Thursday night at Detrick Gymnasium in Northeast Conference action. The Blue Devils scored the first seven points of the game, but the Warriors took control of the game with a 12-0 run late in the opening half to grab the lead for good.

Central is now 4-11 overall and 4-8 in the Northeast Conference, while Merrimack is now 7-4 overall and in the NEC.

Sophomore Greg Outlaw and junior Nigel Scantlebury each scored 13 points to lead CCSU. The Blue Devils were held to 13-of-43 (.302) from the field and 2-of-15 (.133) from three-point range. CCSU was 18-of-25 (.720) from the foul line. The Blue Devils had a 34-29 edge in rebounding.

Jordan Minor led Merrimack with 15 points and five rebounds. The Warriors shot 23-of-47 (.489) overall and 6-of-18 (.333) from three-point range, while going 10-of-17 (.588) from the foul stripe.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU  46, Merrimack 62
Records: CCSU (4-11, 4-8 NEC), MC (7-4, 7-4 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• Central scored the first seven points of the game. Junior Ian Krishnan had five foul shots, while junior Zach Newkirk had a layup to make it 7-0 with 16:26 to go in the half.
• The Warriors would hold the Blue Devils without a field goal for five minutes to take their first lead of the night at 10-9. After a pair of foul shots by sophomore Jamir Reed made it 15-13 with 8:47 to go in the half, Merrimack would go on a 12-0 run and hold Central scoreless for nearly seven minutes and built a double-digit lead. Merrimack led 25-17 at halftime.
• Merrimack scored the first nine points of the second half and CCSU was held without a bucket until a layup by Outlaw with 15:23 to go. The Warriors took their largest lead of the game with 10:48 to play, after a Minor dunk made it 46-23.
• The Blue Devils would score eight unanswered points late in the game to get within 54-40 after four straight points by Outlaw, but that was as close as they would get the rest of the way.

NUMBER TO KNOW

2 - The Blue Devils were held to a season-low two three-pointers. CCSU missed its first 10 attempts until Newkirk converted with 5:37 to play.

NOTES

• CCSU leads the all-time series, 13-7, but has dropped three straight to the Warriors.
• The Blue Devils have made a three-pointer in 175 straight games dating back to Feb. 5, 2015.
• CCSU's reserves outscored Merrimack's, 20-17. The Central bench averages 29.9 points per game.
• Senior Stephane Ayangmagrabbed a team-high seven rebounds for Central.

UP NEXT

The teams meet again on Friday night. Tip off is slated for 7:00 p.m. The game streams live and for free on NECFrontRow.com.