Men's Basketball Drops Second Meeting to Merrimack
The Central Connecticut men's basketball team got within single digits late, but Merrimack responded with a run to pull away for a 72-52 run on Friday night in Northeast Conference basketball action at Detrick Gymnasium. The Blue Devils were within nine points with 5:16 to play, but the Warriors used an 11-0 run to hold off the threat.
Central is now 4-12 overall and 4-9 in the Northeast Conference, while Merrimack is now 8-4 overall and in first place in the NEC.
Junior Tre Mitchell had 14 points and sophomore Greg Outlaw scored 11 points to lead CCSU. The Blue Devils shot 19-of-52 (.365) overall and were 6-of-24 (.250) from three-point range. Central was 8-of-14 (.571) at the foul line.
Ziggy Reid and Mikey Watkins each had 15 points to lead four Warriors in double-figures. MC shot 24-of-48 (.500) from the field and 10-of-24 (.417) from three-point range. Merrimack went 14-of-17 (.824) at the foul line.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 52, Merrimack 72
Records: CCSU (4-12, 4-9 NEC), MC (8-4, 8-4 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT
KEY MOMENTS
- Central held a 15-12 lead with 8:56 remaining in the first half following a dunk by sophomore Xavier Wilson. The Warriors would score 10 consecutive points and held the Blue Devils to one field goal the rest of the half, a dunk by senior Stephane Ayangma with 0:20 to go, and would go into halftime with a 31-19 lead.
- Merrimack scored the first eight points of the second half to go ahead 39-19 with 17:50 to play. The lead would grow to as much as 50-25 before CCSU chipped away with a late run.
- CCSU tralied 54-38 before a layup by Outlaw opened a run of seven straight points. A three-pointer by junior Ian Krishnan was followed by two Outlaw foul shots to make it 54-45 with 5:16 to play.
- Merrrimack would respond with 11 straight points to go ahead 65-45 and put the game out of reach. Following Krishnan's three-pointer with 5:55 to play, the Warriors' defense did not allow another CCSU field goal until 2:11 remained and Mitchell hit a three-pointer.
NUMBER TO KNOW
29 - The Blue Devils got 29 points from reserves in the game. It marked the 11th game that CCSU has gotten 25+ points from its bench this season.
NOTES
- CCSU leads the all-time series, 13-8, but the Warriors have won all four meetings since joining the NEC.
- Outlaw added a team-high five rebounds.
- Mitchell shot 4-of-8 from three-point range and 2-of-2 at the foul line. He scored all 14 of his points in the second half.
- Junior Nigel Scantlebury had five assists and just one turnover.
- Senior Stephane Ayangma made his second straight start and had seven points and four rebounds.
- Wilson had eight points on 4-of-5 shooting.
UP NEXT
Central hosts Sacred Heart on Wednesday, Feb. 17, in a rescheduled contest. Tip off is slated for 5:00 p.m. The game streams live and for free on NECFrontRow.com.
