Men's Basketball Wins NEC Regular-Season Title; Downs Le Moyne Thursday
The Central Connecticut men's basketball team rallied from a double-figure deficit to post a 84-75 win over Le Moyne in Northeast Conference action on Thursday New Britain, CT. The Blue Devils clinched the league title outright with the victory and will host throughout the league tournament.
Four Blue Devils scored in double-figures led by Devin Had with 18 points. Jayden Brown added 16 points, while Abdul Momoh and Jordan Jones had 13 and 11, respectively. Central shot 34-of-63 (.540) overall and was 10-of-23 (.435) from three-point range. The Blue Devils were 6-of-6 (1.000) at the foul line.
AJ Dancler and Nate Fouts had 25 and 22 points, respectively, to lead Le Moyne. The Dolphins shot 28-of-60 (.467) overall and 10-of-22 (.455) on three-pointers. Le Moyne was 9-of-12 (.750) at the foul line.
GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score: CCSU 84, LE MOYNE 75
Records: CCSU (22-6, 13-2 NEC), LMC (9-21, 4-11 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT
KEY MOMENTS
- The Blue Devils had a sluggish start, committing six turnovers in the opening 7:00 of the game. Central would go 0-for-5 from the field at one point and after a basket by Abdul Momoh made it 7-5, Le Moyne would respond with 10 straight points. A three-pointer by AJ Dancler would give the Dolphins a 15-7 lead at the 13:02 mark.
- The Dolphins would score seven straight points in a 41-second span to build their largest lead of the period. A three-pointer by Deng Garang made it 35-24 with 4:46 to go in the half. A three-pointer by Devin Haid and a jumper by Momoh would get Central within 45-37 at halftime.
- CCSU opened the second half by making 5-of-6 from the field and tied it 49-49 on a jumper by Haid. Central would take its first lead since the opening minutes after a three by Darin Smith, Jr. to make it 55-54. A steal and three-pointer by Joe Ostrowsky moments later would push the lead to four.
- Central would not trail again and would push the lead to double-figures with 2:26 to play. CCSU had its largest lead after a dunk by Jayden Brown with 0:48 to play made it 84-69.
NUMBER TO KNOW
6 – Joe Ostrowsky had a career-high six steals, while Haid had a career-high six assists.
NOTES
- Haid shot 8-of-15, while adding nine rebounds.
- Brown went 3-of-3 from the arc in the second half.
- CCSU won its 11th straight game – its longest win streak since winning 12 in a row in 2006-07.
- With its 22nd win of the year. Central has won its most games since going 22-12 in 2006-07.
- The Blue Devins won their fifth straight game when tied or trailing at the half, dating back to Jan. 12 against LIU.
- Central swept the season series, while Le Moyne leads the all-time series, 7-5.
UP NEXT
- Central closes the regular season at Wagner on Saturday in a 6:00 p.m. game on ESPNU.
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