Freshman Kyle Vinales scored 29 second half points, but the Central Connecticut men's basketball fell short 68-60, on the Road at Robert Morris on Saturday night. Vinales finished with 32 in the game, his second 30 point output in his freshman season.
Central drops to 11-5 overall and 8-8 in Northeast Conference play with the loss. They finish their Western Pennsylvania swing with a 1-1 record, having won 65-60 on the road at St. Francis (PA) on Thursday night.
Robert Morris improves to 21-8 overall and 12-4 in league play. They secure a home game in the upcoming NEC Tournament with the victory.
Despite the loss the Blue Devils clinch their 14th straight trip to the NEC Tournament. With their current 8-8 record they cannot finish lower than eighth in the regular season standings.
Vinales led all scorers with 32. His 29 in the second half matched the best scoring half of his career. He also had 29 in the first half of a game at Niagara earlier in the season. The eight threes in a game were a career-high, and the most in a single game for the Blue Devils since Tristan Blackwood had 10 in a game vs. Robert Morris in 2007. It matched the fourth most threes in a single game in program history.
The Colonials never trailed in the game, making their first basket just three seconds into the contest. The Blue Devils hit their first shot of the game, and then missed 10 straight as Robert Morris climbed out to an 11-3 lead. Central scored seven straight to make it 11-10, but the Colonials responded with a 9-2 run to lead 20-12.
Robert Morris led 28-19 at the half. Central hit six field goals in the half, four of them came from senior Robby Ptacek. He had 10 at the break. They were 6-of-25 from the field and 2-of-10 from three. Ptacek was 4-of-9 but the rest of the team shot just 2-of-16.
Robert Morris was 12-of-24 before halftime, and assisted on 10 of their 12 baskets. The Blue Devils had only two assists and turned it over eight times.
The lead reached 31-19 to open the second half, but back-to-back threes from Vinales cut it to 31-25. A fast break bucket from Vinales cut the lead to 31-27, and the run was 8-0.
The lead climbed back to 37-31 for Robert Morris before a jumper from Ptacek cut it to 40-35 with 11:16 to play.
The Colonials hit three straight threes in the next 1:30 to push the lead to 49-35. The run reached 11-0 and the home team led 51-35 with under eight minutes to play.
Central cut the lead to seven, 69-62, with under two minutes to play, using an 11-0 run. Vinales hit his seventh three of the game, and sixth of the half, to bring Central within seven.
Following a Robert Morris basket, Vinales hit two free-throws to make it 61-54. Down eight, Vinales hit his eighth three to make it 63-58 with 1:02 to play. They would get no closer, as RMU made its free-throws in the final minute to secure the win.
Vinales had 32, and Ptacek added 14. Sophomore Terrell Allen added 10 points and five rebounds. Ptacek led the Blue Devils with six boards.
Central will finish the regular season with a pair of home games next week. They host Mount St. Mary's on Thursday at 7 p.m., and then finish the regular season on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. vs. Wagner. It will be Senior Day in New Britain, as Ptacek, Ken Horton and David Simmons will all be honored prior to tip.

July 31, 2012
Men's Hoop Releases Non-Conference Slate

April 14, 2012
Horton's Club Wins Portsmouth Invitational Championship

April 13, 2012
Horton Has Solid Outing at Portsmouth

April 6, 2012
Horton to Attend Portsmouth Invitational

March 1, 2012
Devils Fall in NEC Tourney at Wagner

February 28, 2012
Horton and Vinales Earn Postseason NEC Honors

February 27, 2012
Horton, Vinales Earn NEC Weekly Honors

February 25, 2012
Blue Devils Win Over Wagner; Teams Will Play Again on Thursday

February 23, 2012
Horton's Career Night Leads Blue Devils to Home Win

February 20, 2012
Vinales Earns Seventh Rookie Honor

February 18, 2012
Vinales Goes for 32 in Loss at Robert Morris

February 16, 2012
Men Snap Slide With 65-60 Win at St. Francis (PA)

February 12, 2012
Men's Hoop Falls at Home, 67-59, to Quinnipiac

February 8, 2012
Men's Hoops Drops Third Straight

February 4, 2012
Men Slip to 7-5 in NEC Play with Loss at LIU

February 2, 2012
Blue Devils Fall at SFNY on Thursday

January 28, 2012
Men Top FDU 69-62 on Saturday

January 26, 2012
Men Fall in OT at Home vs. Monmouth

January 21, 2012
Central Falls 62-61 at Sacred Heart

January 19, 2012
Blue Devils Move to 7-1 at Home

January 14, 2012
Men Suffer First Conference Loss

January 12, 2012
Blue Devils 5-0 in NEC After Road Win at Mount

January 9, 2012
Vinales Wins Sixth NEC Rookie Honor

January 7, 2012
Men Now 4-0 in NEC, Top RMU by 15

January 5, 2012
Men's Hoop 3-0 in NEC Play After Home Win

January 5, 2012
Men Look to Move to 3-0 in League Play

January 3, 2012
CCSU and CPTV Sports Announce TV Deal

December 30, 2011
Men Drop Fifth Straight, Lose at UMass

December 30, 2011
Men Back in Action at UMass

December 22, 2011
Blue Devils Lose at Home for First Time

December 22, 2011
MBB Hosts LaSalle at 7 p.m.

December 19, 2011
Vinales Named Rookie of the Week

December 17, 2011
Wildcats Hold Off CCSU, 70-64

December 17, 2011
Blue Devils Take On Northwestern

December 12, 2011
Vinales Makes it Four Out of Five

December 10, 2011
Blue Devils Fall 90-80 at Brown

December 7, 2011
Men Play Tough in Loss at Michigan State

December 5, 2011
Horton Named Player of the Week

December 3, 2011
Men Win Overtime Thriller Over SHU

December 1, 2011
Central Opens Big at Bryant

December 1, 2011
Men Open NEC Play at Bryant on TV Tonight

November 28, 2011
Ptacek, Vinales Earn NEC Honors

November 26, 2011
Blue Devils Fly Past Hawks, 92-58

November 25, 2011
Blue Devils and Hawks at Detrick Gym

November 22, 2011
Two Straight for Men's Basketball

November 21, 2011
Vinales Earns Second NEC Rookie Honor

November 19, 2011
Ptacek Shoots CCSU to Home Win

November 17, 2011
Men's Game at UMass Moved to Dec. 30

November 14, 2011
Niagara Falls and a Rookie of the Week

November 14, 2011
Blue Devils Drop Overtime Thriller

November 11, 2011
Men's Hoop Drops Opener

November 2, 2011
CCSU Third, Horton Named All-Conference

October 31, 2011
CT6 Breakfast Postponed to Nov. 8
.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
October 17, 2011
Men's Hoop Begins Practice

October 12, 2011
Speech Captures 16th Blue Devil Run

October 4, 2011
Hoops Season Tickets Now On Sale

October 3, 2011
2011-12 Basketball Tip-Off Dinner

September 13, 2011
Men's Hoop Releases 2011-12 Schedule

August 29, 2011
Horton Among Nation's Most Valuable