
Men's Basketball Topples LIU to Take Top Spot in NEC Standings
In a matchup of the top two teams in the Northeast Conference, the Central Connecticut men's basketball team topped LIU, 63-50, on Thursday in Brooklyn, NY. The Blue Devils moved into first place in the league standings with the victory. CCSU won its nation-leading ninth road game of the year and had four players score in double-figures.
Jordan Jones scored 17 points, while Jayden Brown (12), Davonte Sweatman (11) and Abdul Momoh (10) rounded out the quartet of double-digit scorers. Central shot 26-of_57 (.456) overall and 3-of-16 (.188) from three-point range. The Blue Devils were 8-of-16 (.500) at the foul line.
Terell Strickland led LIU with 19 points. The Sharks shot just 21-of-57 (.368) overall and 5-of-19 (.263) on three-pointers. LIU was 3-of-6 (.500) at the foul line.
GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score: CCSU 63, LIU 50
Records: CCSU (15-6, 6-2 NEC), LIU (10-14, 6-3 NEC)
Location: Steinberg Wellness Center | Brooklyn, NY
KEY MOMENTS
- Central Connecticut would erase an early four-point deficit by holding the Sharks scoreless for over six minutes. The Blue Devils would reel off 11 unanswered points to take a seven-point lead following a dunk by Abdul Momoh with 8:33 to go in the half.
- The Blue Devils' run was the offensive highlight of the first half as Central went 0-for-10 from three-point range and the Sharks shot just 29 percent from the field. Max Frazier would power the Central defense, rejecting four shots in the period, while Davonte Sweatman made a pair of foul shots just before the intermission to give CCSU a 27-18 lead.
- CCSU limited the Sharks to just three points in the first five minutes of the second half. Jordan Jones hit a three-pointer to open the scoring in the second half and three quick points by Momoh would extend the Central lead to 37-21 at the 15:13 mark.
- Central would hit 3-of-5 from the arc to open the second period and a trey from Davonte Sweatman followed by a driving layup would push the lead to 48-27 midway through the half. The Blue Devils pushed the lead to as much as 51-27 following a dunk by Darin Smith, Jr. with 8:15 to play.
- LIU would score seven unanswered points over a two-minute span to trim the Blue Devils' lead to 57-45 with 3:01 to play. A slashing drive and layup by Sweatman would end the run with just under two minutes to play and CCSU would not allow its lead to shrink any further than the final margin.
NUMBER TO KNOW
8 – The Blue Devils have committed 8 or fewer turnovers in three straight games.
NOTES
- Central improved to 5-0 on the road in NEC play and has won seven straight road games in league play dating back to Feb. 15, 2024, a loss at Le Moyne.
- Jones shot 6-of-7 from the field overall and added five rebounds, three steals and two assists.
- Momoh narrowly missed his fourth double-double of league play, finishing with nine rebounds to go with 10 points. He added three blocked shots, two steals and two assists.
- Sweatman added a team-high four assists in 30 minutes off the bench. He has totaled 13 assists over the last three games.
- Frazier blocked a career-high five shots in 13 minutes. He is the first Blue Devil with 5+ rejections in a game since Momoh had five against Maine on Nov. 23, 2022.
- Central, which ranks second nationally in fouls committed per game (11.6), committed just eight.
- CCSU has won six of the last seven meetings, while LIU leads the all-time series, 31-26.
UP NEXT
- Central travels to Stonehill on Saturday afternoon.
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