Blue Devils Move to 2-0 at Home with 89-86 Double Overtime Victory Over UMBC

Sophomore Robby Ptacek scored 23 points and dished out five assists as the Central Connecticut State University men's basketball team topped UMBC 89-86 in double overtime on Wednesday night. Senior Joe Seymore scored a season-high 15 points and hit three threes as Central improved to 4-6 overall on the season and 2-0 at home. The Blue Devils return to action on Saturday at 5 p.m. against Holy Cross at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

Seymore's output was his best of the 2009-10 season, matching the 15 points he put up in a lost to Long Island earlier this year. He scored all 15 of his points after halftime, including seven in the two overtime periods.

Central was led by Ptacek's 23 points, but had five players score in double figures in the victory. Seymore had 15 while sophomore Vince Rosario added 14, junior David Simmons had 13 and junior Shemik Thompson had 12. It marked the first time since the 2008-09 season that the Blue Devils had five players scored 10 or more in a game.

The overtime victory is the second of the season for Central, both of those coming at home. They topped Albany 70-68 at home earlier in December. The Blue Devils are now 14-5 in overtime games in the 14 seasons under head coach Howie Dickenman. The victory is the 20th straight for Central when scoring at least 80 points in a game.

Central and UMBC were tied at 66 at the end of regulation. The third three of the game by Seymore gave the Blue Devils a 76-73 lead with 2:36 to play in the first overtime. UMBC answered with a three of their own on their next possession and neither team would score again, leading to the second overtime.

The visitors led 82-80 after scoring four straight points with 2:37 on the clock. The Blue Devils answered with seven straight points, including the third three of the game by Rosario and a bucket in the paint by Seymore. Thompson hit a pair of free-throws and Seymore hit his two from the line as the Blue Devils held on the for the 89-86 victory. It is their second victory in the last three games.

Ptacek led the way with 23, marking the first time in his career that he has scored 20 or more points in back-to-back games. The Blue Devils begin their home season 2-0 for the first time since the 2001-02 season.

Thompson added a season-high eight assists and seven rebounds for the Blue Devils. Simmons added seven boards to his 12 points.

As a team Central had 16 assists and only 10 turnovers in the game. Ptacek also added five assists.

Central is in action again on Saturday at 5 p.m. playing againt Holy Cross at the Mohegan Sun Arena.