Men's Basketball Dominates in Home-Opener Win
Six Blue Devils scored in double-figures, led by Darin Smith, Jr. who scored 23
The Central Connecticut men's basketball team won its home-opener comfortably, 117-68, over Vermont State Johnson on Monday night in Detrick Gymnasium. Central shot 61 percent from the field and had six players score in double digits while dishing out 31 assists as a team.
Darin Smith, Jr. scored a game-high 23 points, while Davonte Sweatman added 22 points and seven assists to lead Central. CCSU shot 44-of-72 (.611) overall and 18-of-36 (.500) from three-point range. The Blue Devils made 11-of-16 (.688) at the foul line.
Matthew Carter led four Badgers in double-figures with 17 points. Vermont State Johnson was 28-of-65 (.431) overall and 6-of-14 (.429) on three-pointers. The Badgers shot 6-of-11 (.545) at the foul line.
GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score: CCSU 117, VERMONT STATE JOHNSON 68
Records: CCSU (2-1), VSJ (0-3)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT
KEY MOMENTS
- The Blue Devils would score the first five points of the game and quickly led, 14-2, following a Jayden Brown three-pointer with 16:17 to play in the first half. Central would not allow its lead to sink below nine points the rest of the game and CCSU would push its lead to 63-32 at halftime after Davonte Sweatman made a shot from halfcourt as time expired.
- Central would score the first nine points of the second half and forced a timeout by the visitors just 1:22 into the period. The Blue Devils would take their largest lead of the night with just under a minute to play following a pair of foul shots by Sweatman.
NUMBER TO KNOW
39:45 – Central led wire-to-wire in the game and has trailed for just 10:25 through three games.
NOTES
- The teams were meeting for the first time and the win marked CCSU's seventh straight regular-season victory in Detrick Gymnasium.
- Sweatman finished the game 8-of-9 from the field, including four three-pointers. He did not commit a turnover in 24 minutes of action.
- Smith shot 7-of-11 from the field and made six three-pointers. He added five rebounds and two steals.
- Brown (15 points), Devin Haid (14), Joe Ostrowsky (11) and Abdul Momoh (10) also scored in double-figures, marking the first time since Nov. 13, 2023 that six players scored 10+ points.
- Ostrowsky added seven rebounds and six assists without a turnover.
- James Jones grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, while adding five points, five assists and two blocks.
- Jordan Jones narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with nine points and a career-high nine assists. He did not commit a turnover in 24 minutes.
- The 117 points were the most scored by Central since Feb. 17, 1996, in a 119-118 win at Troy.
UP NEXT
- Central travels to Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada for the Atlantic Slam on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 7:00 p.m.
Follow @CCSUBlueDevils on Twitter and CCSUBlueDevils.com for updates.
