Men's Basketball Downed at Seton Hall Wednesday
Despite a double-double from James Jones and 20 points from Darin Smith, Jr. the Blue Devils could not overcome a Pirates team that made 11 three-pointers and took advantage of 15 turnovers.
The Central Connecticut State men's basketball team was stopped at Seton Hall on Wednesday night, 77-61, at Walsh Gymnasium in South Orange, NJ. The Blue Devils were within seven points in the second half, but the Pirates managed to hold the lead and pull away down the stretch.
Darin Smith, Jr. scored a game-high 20 points, while James Jones added 12 points and 13 rebounds and Max Frazier finished with 13 points. The Blue Devils shot 22-of-51 (.431) overall and 8-of-21 (.381) from three-point range. CCSU was 9-of-12 (.750) from the foul line.
Adam Clark led a balanced Seton Hall effort, posting a double-double with 10 points and 12 assists. The Pirates shot 27-of-59 (.458) overall and 11-of-20 (.550) from the arc. SHU was 12-of-15 (.800) at the foul line.
GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score: CCSU 61, SETON HALL 77
Records: CCSU (5-3, 0-0 NEC), SHU (8-1, 0-0 BIG EAST)
Location: Walsh Gym | South Orange, NJ
KEY MOMENTS
- Seton Hall opened the game by scoring the first eight points. Although, CCSU was scoreless for the opening 3:45, a jumper by Jay Rodgers and consecutive baskets by Max Frazier would make it a two-point game. The Blue Devils would hit 5-of-6 shots at one stretch and took their first lead at 11-10 following a three-point play by James Jones at the 13:14 mark.
- The Pirates would use a 13-2 run over nearly four minutes to regain the lead. Jacob Dar opened the spurt with a three-pointer and the lead grew to 23-13 following a Tajuan Simpkins layup at the 8:40 mark. A dunk by Frazier was the only Blue Devil basket in the stretch, until consecutive layups by Elijah Parker were followed by a James Jones layup to make it 23-19 with 5:38 in the period.
- Central would get within four in the closing minutes of the opening half and Darin Smith, Jr. scored eight straight for the Blue Devils, but Seton Hall would score five unanswered points to take a 37-27 lead at the intermission.
- Seton Hall would score the first six points to push the lead to 43-27 with 18:32 remaining. The Blue Devils would eventually trim the deficit to single digits after a three-pointer by James Jones with 14:54 to play made it 45-36.
- The CCSU defense would limit the Pirates to a 1-of-9 shooting stretch and got within, 47-40, after a three-pointer by Melo Sanchez. Seton Hall would use an 11-1 run over a two-minute stretch to push the lead to 58-41 with 9:04 to play, before eventually pushing the lead to 66-46.
- Central would run off nine straight points in a span of 1:46 to get back into the game. Smith, Jr. and Frazier combined for all of the scoring in the run and a trifecta by Smith, Jr. made it 66-55 with 3:57 remaining. Josh Rivera would end a nearly four-minute scoring drought for SHU that bumped the lead back to 69-55 and the Blue Devils would not get any closer the rest of the way.
NUMBER TO KNOW
15 – CCSU was forced into a season-high turnovers total, which Seton Hall turned into 29 points.
NOTES
- Jones posted his first career double-double and added two assists.
- Smith, Jr. connected with on 4-of-9 three-pointers to post his fourth-straight 20-point outing.
- Frazier shot 5-of-8 from the floor and added six rebounds, five blocked shots and two steals.
- Rodgers finished with nine points and eight assists. Jhe has 5+ assists in six straight games.
- SHU leads the all-time series, 6-0. The Pirates took advantage of a 29-10 advantage in points off turnovers, while enjoying a 35-4 margin in bench scoring.
UP NEXT
- CCSU plays at Northeastern on Sunday afternoon.
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