Men's Basketball Outscored by Sacred Heart on Thursday

The Central Connecticut men's basketball team fell to Sacred Heart on Thursday night, 82-70, in Northeast Conference action at Detrick Gymnasium. The Blue Devils were within three points in the first half before SHU rattled off 13 unanswere points to build an insurmountable lead.

Central is now 4-13 overall and 4-10 in the Northeast Conference, while Sacred Heart is now 7-6 overall and 7-5 in the NEC.

Sophomore Myles Baker scored a team-high 16 points, while senior Stephane Ayangma and junior Ian Krishnan each added 13 points. The Blue Devils shot 26-of-65 (.400) overall and were 11-of-26 (.423) three-point range. The Blue Devils converted 7-of-9 (.778) at the foul line.

Tyler Thomas led four Pioneers in double-figures with 18 points. SHU shot 28-of-56 (.500) overall and 7-of-19 (.368) from the arc. The Pioneers were 19-of-24 (.792) from the free throw line.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU  70, Sacred Heart 82
Records: CCSU (4-13, 4-10 NEC), SHU (7-6, 7-5 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• Central scored seven straight points to get within 15-14 at the 13:21 mark of the first half. Krishnan had five points during the run, including a three-pointer, to get CCSU within a point.
• A three-pointer by Baker with 7:45 left in the first half would get Central within, 24-21. The Pioneers would hold the Blue Devils scoreless for over five minutes and scored 13 straight points to build a 37-21 lead with 2:15 left in the half. Baker would hit a foul shot to end the CCSU drought, but SHU did not allow a field goal until 1:28 remained and junior Karrington Wallace hit a layup. The Pioneers would lead 42-26 at halftime.
• The Blue Devils would only be able to get within 11 points in the second half. CCSU scored six straight, capped off by a three-pointer by junior Zach Newkirk to make it 50-39 with 15:11 to play. The Pioneers would push the lead to as much as 59-39 with 12:02 to play. CCSU made one last push when it outscored SHU, 9-2 over a 90-second span to get within 63-51 with 9:2 to go after a three-pointer by junior Nigel Scantlebury.
• The Pioneers would push the lead back to as many as 19 and did not allow the Blue Devils closer than the final margin following a three-pointer by Baker.

NUMBER TO KNOW

15 - The Blue Devils attempted 15 fewer foul shots than the Pioneers. The difference was the second-largest for CCSU this season. Bryant attempted 16 more than the Blue Devils (20-4) in their meeting on Jan. 7.

NOTES

• CCSU leads the all-time series, 37-33, but SHU has won 12 straight in the series dating back to the 2014-15 season.
• Ayangma scored a season-high on 6-of-10 shooting. He added seven rebounds, tied with junior Karrington Wallace for the team-high.
• Baker posted his fifth double-figure scoring game and was 4-of-8 from three-point range in the game.
• Krishnan had three three-pointers, his sixth game with 2+ three-pointers this season.
• Wallace added eight points and a career-high three steals.
• Sophomore Jamir Reed had a team-high four assists.
• CCSU had a 32-18 edge in bench scoring.
• The Blue Devils were without their top two scorers, junior Tre Mitchell and sophomore Greg Outlaw.

UP NEXT

Central travels to LIU this weekend. The teams play Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 4:00 p.m. The game streams are live and for free on NECFrontRow.com.