January 8, 2011

Junior Ken Horton posted the third 30 point game of his career but it wasn't enough as the Central Connecticut men's basketball team saw its five-game win streak come to an end with a 72-67 loss at home to Long Island on Saturday. Junior Robby Ptacek added 22 points but the Blue Devils lost at home for the first time this season. Central is now 9-6 overall and 2-2 in Northeast Conference play. LIU is 11-4 and 3-1.

The Blue Devils led most of the way, and by as many as 13 points in the first half. With 10 minutes left in the game Central held a 56-49 lead following a dunk by Ptacek.

Long Island, who came into the game averaging almost 83 points a game, would go on a 15-3 run over the next five minutes to turn the seven point deficit into a five point lead. They led 64-59 with 5:15 on the clock.

Ptacek hit a jumper with 4:08 to play to cut the lead to two, but a three from David Hicks made it 68-63 with just over three minutes to play in the game. The Blue Devils would get no closer than three the rest of the way, but they did have a chance to tie the game in the final minute.

Down three, the Blue Devils had the ball with under 30 seconds to play. A three from junior Vince Rosario was short and the Blackbirds went on to the victory.

Long Island hit 15-of-22 shots from the field in the second half and outscored the Blue Devils 43-32 to earn their 11th victory. They hit 3-of-5 from three and also 10-of-14 from the foulline in earning their third league win.

Horton's 31 led the Blue Devils. He made 6-of-10 from three and 11-of-20 from the field. Ptacek added 22 for his third straight game with 20 or more points. He hit a pair of threes.

Senior Shemik Thompson had six points, six rebounds, eight assists and four steals in the game. His eight assists were his second-highest total of the season. The Blue Devils had 18 assists and only 12 turnovers in the game. They did not shoot the ball well in the second half, making just 13-of-36 shots and 4-of-15 from three. They took 26 threes in the loss.

Central, who just finished a six-game home stand (5-1), now takes to the road for their next three games. Next week they play on the road at Sacred Heart on Thursday and at Quinnipiac on Saturday.