Seymore and Thompson Lead CCSU to 67-61 Win at Delaware on Wednesday Night

The Central Connecticut men's basketball team ran its winning streak to three games with a 67-61 victory on the road at Delaware on Wednesday night. The win, which moves the Blue Devils to 3-3 on the season, is the first road win of the season for the Blue Devils. Delaware natives Shemik Thompson and Joe Seymore led the Blue Devils, each with 14 points in their return to their home state. The Blue Devils return to action on Saturday hosting Mount St. Mary's in their Northeast Conference opener at 2 p.m.

The Blue Hens led 6-5 early and used back-to-back threes to make it 12-5 with 14:02 on the clock. The Blue Devils responded with four of the next six points to cut it to 14-10 but Delware would answer. The Blue Hens took a 27-14 lead on the heels of an 11-2 run over the next six minutes.

The Blue Devils answered with a pair of three point baskets by Thompson and Seymore to cut it to 27-20 with 6:04 on the clock. A jumper by Thompson on the next possession made it 27-22 and a Ken Horton fast break layup, assisted by Thompson, cut the lead to three. Following a steal by Seymore, Thompson hit another jumper and the run reached 12-0 and the score stood at just 27-26.

The Blue Devils outscored the Blue Hens 14-1 in the final 6:49 of the first half and the score was tied at 28-28 at the break. Delaware missed its final 10 shots of the half and managed just a free-throw as the Blue Devils climbed back from a 27-14 deficit to tie the game. During the 14-1 run for the Blue Devils Thompson scored eight and dished out one assist.

Central Connecticut took its first lead of the game to begin the second half and, after falling back behind by three, led 39-34 on the heels of a 8-0 run. An offensive rebound by sophomore David Simmons, the 15th of the game for the Blue Devils, followed by a goaltending call on an Aaron Hall jumper gave CCSU the five point lead.

The Blue Hens used an 8-2 run to take a 42-41 lead with 11:59 on the clock. Down two, 45-43, the Blue Devils retook the lead on a conventional three-point play by Horton with 10:25 to play. The points where just the sixth of the game for Horton who came in averaging over 22 per game.

With 9:58 on the clock Thompson picked up his fourth personal foul and left the game with a season-high 14 points and four rebounds.

Seymore responded with a jumper in the lane and a deep three to put the Blue Devils up 51-49 with under eight minutes to play in the second half. With 5:07 to play the Blue Devils took a 57-51 lead following two from Horton and a pair of free-throws by freshman Robby Ptacek. Delaware scored six of the next eight points in under a minute to cut the lead to 59-57.

With 32.8 seconds on the clock and the game tied at 61-61 Horton was fouled and hit both free-throws to give CCSU the two point lead. After a missed three by the Blue Hens, Seymore was fouled and hit both free-throws to up the lead to 65-61 with 11.1 on the clock. The Blue Hens turned it over and Ptacek hit two free-throws to give CCSU the 67-61 win.

Seymore and Thompson each had 14 while Ptacek and Horton added 10 points each as four Blue Devils scored in double-figures in the win. Horton, Seymore and Simmons all had seven boards as the Blue Devils outrebounded the Blue Hens 38-34. It marked the fifth straight game that the Blue Devils outrebounded their opponent.

The Blue Devils return to action on Saturday, Dec. 6 at home when they open their NEC schedule hosting reigning champion Mount St. Mary's at 2 p.m. The gamee will air live on the CCSU ESPN Radio Network on both ESPN Radio 1410 in Hartford and ESPN Radio 1300 in New Haven.