Win Streak Ends on the Road at Bryant on Saturday Afternoon

The Central Connecticut men's basketball team had its seven-game winning streak snapped on Saturday with an 85-80 overtime loss on the road at Bryant University. Junior Ken Horton posted his fourth straight and his 10th double-double of the season with 27 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in the loss. The Blue Devils fall to 17-8 overall and 10-4 in Northeast Conference play.

After the Blue Devils took a four-point lead in overtime, 80-76, Bryant scored the final nine points of the overtime period to snap the winning streak for Central.

The Blue Devils led by seven, 17-10, after a pair of free-throws from freshman Terrell Allen. The Bulldogs answered to lead by as many as nine in the first period, after running off a 29-13 run that lasted almost 11 minutes.

The Bulldogs hit an impressive 7-of-11 threes before the break, taking a 41-34 lead into halftime. They were 15-of-25 for the half, with seven of those coming from three.

Central hit on 13-of-27 before halftime, but was just 1-of-8 from three. Horton had 15 to lead all scorers at the break. He was 7-of-8 from the field.

In the second half, The Bulldogs took a 13-point lead, 52-39, after a pair of free-throws on a technical foul and then a three on their next possession. Central cut it to six at 52-46 after a pair of free-throws by Horton.

A three from senior Shemik Thompson made it 53-51 but the Bulldogs hit back-to-back threes to push the lead back to 59-51. A quick 8-2 run capped off by a basket from Horton cut it to 61-59 with under nine minutes to play.

Thompson hit back-to-back threes from the top of the key for the Blue Devils to make it 69-65 with under three on the clock. With a minute to play the Bulldogs hit a three to make it 73-66 but Thompson hit his fourth three of the half to cut it to four with 48 seconds left.

Central cut it to 74-71 and then forced a Bryant turnover with 6.4 seconds left on the clock. Following a Bryant timeout, Thompson hit a three with 1.6 seconds left to tie the game and send it to overtime. It was his fifth three of the half.

The Blue Devils took an 80-76 lead in overtime after two free-throws from Horton. After Central missed a pair of free-throws, Bryant scored five straight points to take an 81-80 lead with 56.6 seconds to play.

Horton missed a three, and the Blue Devils were forced to foul and Bryant hit one to make it a two-point game. Central missed a three and was forced to foul again with 13.7 seconds on the clock.

Horton led the way with his 27 points and his career-high 16 boards. Thompson had 17 points, seven boards and five assists. Junior Robby Ptacek had 11 points but fouled out in overtime. Allen added nine points and five rebounds in the loss.

The Blue Devils return to action on Thursday night at home against Sacred Heart beginning at 7 p.m.