Men's Basketball Honors Seniors Prior to Season Finale Against St. Francis Brooklyn

The Central Connecticut men's basketball team closed out the 2019-20 season on Saturday at Detrick Gymnasium, falling to St. Francis Brooklyn, 85-79. The Blue Devils cut a double-digit deficit to two points with 0:38 to play, but could not complete the rally. Prior to the game, Central recognized its seniors Jamir Coleman, Donyell Marshall, Jr., Tyler Rowe and team manager Matt Trudeau.

Coleman scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Central. Rowe added a personal-best 15 points and sophomore Ian Krishnan had 10 points. Marshall made his first career start and had personal-bests in rebounds and blocked shots. CCSU shot 27-of-64 (.422) from the field and was 6-of-17 (.353) from the arc. The Blue Devils went 19-of-21 (.905) at the foul line. CCSU had a 40-36 rebounding edge.

Chauncey Hawkins had a game-high 38 points to lead St. Francis Brooklyn. Rob Higgins and Deniz Celen added 13 and 10 points, respectively. SFBK shot 27-of-63 (.429) from the field and ws 5-of-15 (.333) from three-point range. The Terriers went 26-30 (.867) at the foul line.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Central Connecticut 79, St. Francis Brooklyn 85
Records: CCSU (4-27, 3-15 NEC), SFBK (13-17, 7-11 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• Central built an early five-point lead after scoring seven straight points. Coleman opened the spurt with a jumper and Rowe would score five straight, including a jumper at the 14:52 mark to make it 10-5.
• The Terriers erased a 12-11 deficit to take the lead for good with an 8-0 run. A Hawkins three-pointer at the 12:17 mark capped the run and made it 19-12.
• Hawkins hit a pair of free throws with 0:13 to go in the first half to take a 42-32 lead at halftime.
• The Blue Devils quickly got within 44-38 after halftime after a foul shot by Coleman and a three-pointer by Rowe with 18:58 to play. The Terriers would hold CCSU without a field goal for over four minutes, while eventually pushing the lead to 61-48 after a pair of Hawkins free throws with 12:55 to play. 
• Central would outscore SFBK, 7-1, in a 2:37 span to cut the lead to 72-66 after a pair of foul shots by freshman Greg Outlaw. The Blue Devils would hold the Terriers to just one field goal during a nearly six-minute span and a three-pointer by Krishnan would make it 77-75 with 1:54 to go. Central would get within 79-77 with 0:38 remaining but SFBK would go 6-for-6 from the foul line down the stretch to hold off CCSU.

NUMBER TO KNOW

54 - In the past two games, CCSU attempted 54 free throws and was 43-of-54 (.796)

NOTES

• This was the only meeting between the teams this season. St. Francis Brooklyn leads the all-time series, 29-25
• Coleman went 11-for-17 from the field and 6-of-7 at the foul line. His double-double was the seventh of his career. He added three assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
• CCSU had a 18-17 advantage in bench scoring and in the season's last 10 games, CCSU outscored its opponents 340-175. Central entered the game with 26.8 ppg from its bench this season.
• The Blue Devils outrebounded its opponent for the second straight game.
• Rowe hit a career-high three three-pointers.
• Marshall grabbed two rebounds and blocked two shots.