
Men's Basketball Rallies for 68-67 Win at Sacred Heart
The Central Connecticut men's basketball team erased an 11-point halftime deficit and came away with a 68-67 win at Sacred Heart in Northeast Conference action on Saturday in Fairfield, CT. The Blue Devils held the Pioneers to one field goal during a pivotal seven-minute stretch in the second half and would hold on to win by a point for the second straight game.
The Blue Devils have clinched their first postseason home game since the 2010-11 season. Season ticket and ticket package holders will receive an email on Monday with instructions on purchasing postseason tickets. General ticket sales for the NEC quarterfinal game will be at a later date.
Tre Breland made five three-pointers and scored a career-high 21 points to lead CCSU, while Allan Jeanne-Rose added 16 points. CCSU shot 23-of-60 (.383) overall and 6-of-21 (.286) from three-point range. The Blue Devils were 16-of-22 (.727) at the foul line.
Alex Sobel led Sacred Heart with 17 points before he fouled out. SHU shot 26-of-63 (.413) overall and 6-of-20 (.300) on three-pointers. The Pioneers were 9-of-11 (.818) at the foul line.
The Blue Devils return home to host LIU on Newington Day presented by Stew Leonard's on Feb. 29.
GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score: CCSU 68, SACRED HEART 67
Records: CCSU (17-10, 11-3 NEC), SHU (14-14, 8-5 NEC)
Location: Pitt Center | Fairfield, CT
KEY MOMENTS
- Breland would score eight points in the opening 11:13, but the Pioneers would lead for most of the opening half. After the Blue Devils got within 26-22, SHU would score the final seven points of the period in a 2:13 stretch to go ahead 33-22 at the intermission.
- A putback by Sobel on the opening possession of the second half would give SHU its largest lead of the day at 35-22. The Pioneers maintained a double-digit lead until a layup by Jayden Brown and a trifecta by Breland made it an eight-point game with 15:55 remaining.
- The Blue Devils would outscore the Pioneers, 16-3, over a five-minute span that turned the momentum. CCSU tied it at 48-48 following a dunk by Breland with 9:23 to play and after an SHU foul shot, Allan Jeanne-Rose put back an offensive rebound to put CCSU up one. Central extended a run of nine straight points that saw its lead grow to 57-49 after two foul shots by Jordan Jones.
- The Pioneers were held without a field goal for over six minutes as the Blue Devils would build their largest lead at 59-50. A putback by Sobel started a run of eight straight points for SHU that would trim the deficit to one with 3:29 to play.
- Sacred Heart would tie the game with four straight points following a layup by Joey Reilly that made it 62-62 with 49 seconds to play. Jeanne-Rose hit two foul shots on the following possession and CCSU would go 6-of-6 at the foul line to close the game. Davonte Sweatman's free throws made it a four-point game until Nico Galette hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.
NUMBER TO KNOW
17 – The Blue Devils have won 17 games are assured of a winning record for the first time since going 19-12 in 2010-11.
NOTES
- The Blue Devils lead the all-time series, 39-35, and swept the season series for the first time since 2013-14. CCSU won at the Pitt Center for the first time since March 1, 2014, ending a nine-game streak.
- CCSU won its league-best ninth road game overall and have won nine away games for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
- Breland was 5-of-10 on three-pointers and added six rebounds and three steals.
- Jeanne-Rose returned from a one-game absence and shot 6-of-9 in 32 minutes.
- Kellen Amos finished with eight points, five rebounds, two assists and a career-high four blocked shots.
- Jordan Jones had nine points, six rebounds and four assists without a turnover.
- Dating back to the 2021-22 season, Central Connecticut has won six straight one-point games.
UP NEXT
The Blue Devils return home to host LIU on Newington Day presented by Stew Leonard's on Feb. 29.
Follow @CCSUBlueDevils on Twitter and CCSUBlueDevils.com for updates.