Men's Basketball Hosts Wagner to Close Regular Season
The Central Connecticut men's basketball team closes the regular season at home with two games against Wagner. The teams will play on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and Friday at 4:00 p.m.
Although fans will not be in the stands, the games will stream for free, and live, on NEC Front Row.
GAME LINKS: GAME NOTES (CCSU) | GAME NOTES (WAGNER) | VIDEO (NEC Front Row) | LIVE STATS | GAMEDAY PROGRAM (HOME GAMES)
OTHER INFORMATION: 2020-21 CCSU RECORD BOOK | NORTHEAST CONFERENCE HOMEPAGE | NEC INDIVIDUAL STATS (ALL GAMES) - (NEC GAMES) | NEC TEAM STATS (ALL GAMES) - (NEC GAMES)
Central Connecticut will be looking to end its five-game slide following two setbacks at LIU. The Blue Devils entered the weekend without their top two scorers and had just seven players available for Saturday's game. Sophomore Myles Baker responded with 23 points on Saturday and junior Zach Newkirk had 20 points on Sunday as the short-handed Blue Devils had strong showings. Senior Stephane Ayangma has started the last five games and has posted three straight double-digit scoring games to help the Central frontline.
Wagner is the hottest team in the Northeast Conference, having won nine straight games after a pair of wins over Saint Francis U last week. The Seahawks opened the year just 1-5 but have not lost since Jan. 14 to move atop the league standings. Freshman DeLonnie Hunt has won three straight Rookie of the Week honors and is scoring 11.0 ppg. Elijah Ford is scoring 18.4 ppg, while Alex Morales is scoring 16.7 ppg and grabbing a team-high 7.1 rpg.
JOHN THOMPSON TOWEL INITIATIVE
Coaches across the nation have paid tribute to John Thompson Jr. this season by wearing commemorative towels over their shoulders - mirroring the late coach's signature look. The NABC launched the initiative to honor Thompson for his lasting impact both on and off the court. Towels featuring an image of Thompson were distributed to every NABC-member head men's basketball coach in NCAA Divisions I, II and III and the NAIA. The towel initiative originated from the NABC Committee on Racial Reconciliation and more information is available HERE along with PHOTOS.
WITH A CCSU WIN THIS WEEK...
• Central would earn a season split of the series with Wagner for the second straight year. The Blue Devils ended a 10-game slide prior to winning on Jan. 25, 2020.
• A Blue Devils win on Friday would give CCSU a win to close the regular season for the first time since 2017-18 (vs. St. Francis Brooklyn, 2/24/18, 78-75 ot).
• Myles Baker converted a career-high 6 three-pointers in a 23-point game on Saturday at LIU. He also played a career-high 39 minutes.
• Stephane Ayangma has posted three straight double-digit scoring games. He's started the past five games and is averaging 10.8 ppg (46.3 fg%), 6.8 rpg, and playing 26.6 mpg.
