Men's Basketball Downs New Haven in NEC Home Opener
The Central Connecticut State men's basketball opened won its NEC home-opener on Sunday afternoon, topping New Haven 72-61 at Detrick Gymnasium. The Blue Devils led wire-to-wire in the game and had three players in double-figures.
Melo Sanchez hit 6-of-7 three-pointers and finished with 18 points, while Jay Rodgers added 17 points and seven assists. Darin Smith, Jr. finished with 15 points. Central shot 50.0 percent from the field, hitting 27-of-54 overall and was 13-of-25 (.520) on three-pointers.
New Haven was led by Andre Pasha who had 18 points. The Chargers shot 25-of-59 (.424) overall and 9-of-27 (.333) on three-pointers. The teams combined to shoot just 10 foul shots in the game.
GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score: CCSU 72, NEW HAVEN 61
Records: CCSU (7-6, 1-1 NEC), NHVN (6-9, 1-1 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT
KEY MOMENTS
- Central held New Haven scoreless for the opening 4:02 and would open a seven-point lead following a trifecta by Melo Sanchez. Darin Smith, Jr. would respond to the Chargers' first basket by scoring five unanswered points to push the lead to 12-3 before a trey by Sanchez pushed the lead to double-digits.
- The Chargers would trim the deficit to six points at one point, but CCSU continued to connect from the arc, hitting 6-of-11 to begin the game. Max Frazier would convert a layup to open a mini-spurt of seven straight points. Daniel James had a tip in to cap the spurt and push the lead to 30-15.
- The teams did not shoot a foul shot in the opening period and after a jumper by Jay Rodgers made it 35-21, the Chargers would score the final eight points of the period to make it 35-29 at halftime. Andre Pasha and Aidan Losiewicz hit back-to-back treys to close the half for New Haven.
- The Blue Devils opened the second half with an 10-0 run to push the lead back to double-figures. Back-to-back treys by Darin Smith, Jr. and Sanchez, followed by a layin from Rodgers made it 45-29. The Chargers would go without scoring in the opening 3:30 and hit just one shot in the opening four minutes.
- The first foul shots of the game did not come until 11:21 to play and Rodgers hit 1-of-2. CCSU would use a foul shot from Smith, Jr. to complete a traditional three-point play with 8:20 remaining to make it 57-47. The lead would grow to 65-51 and force a New Haven timeout, following Sanchez's sixth three-pointer of the game with 6:29 to play.
- New Haven would not shoot a foul shot until 6:06 remained. The Blue Devils would put the Chargers on the line just three times in the game, however, and never trailed on the afternoon before winning their NEC home-opener.
NUMBER TO KNOW
39:42 – CCSU led for all but 18 seconds in the game and led by as many as 16 points.
NOTES
- Sanchez hit his first five three-pointers of the game, while collecting four rebounds and two steals. He also had his first blocked shot of the season.
- Rodgers had 5+ assists for the 12th game this season and pushed his season total to 99 assists.
- CCSU shot better than 50 percent from the field for the sixth time this season and second straight game.
- The Blue Devils matched a season-high with 13 three-pointers (13 vs. Johnson & Wales).
- Central outscored the Chargers, 20-9, in points off turnovers.
UP NEXT
- The Blue Devils host Stonehill on Thursday, Jan. 8.
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