Smith, Jr. and Rodgers Each Score 20 to Carry Men's Basketball by Stonehill
The Central Connecticut State men's basketball picked up its second straight NEC win with a 76-69 win over Stonehill on Thursday at Detrick Gymnasium. The Blue Devils led wire-to-wire and shot better than 50 percent from the field.
Darin Smith, Jr. led all scorers with 22 points, while Jay Rodgers had 21 points and six assists. Central shot 53.2 percent from the field, hitting 25-of-47 overall and was 6-of-14 (.429) on three-pointers. CCSU converted 20-of-24 foul shots.
Stonehill was led by Davante Hackett who had 19 points. The Skyhawks shot 27-of-60 (.450) overall and 8-of-22 (.364) on three-pointers. Stonehill was 7-of-11 at the foul line.
GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score: CCSU 76, STONEHILL 69
Records: CCSU (8-6, 2-1 NEC), STO (4-12, 1-2 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT
KEY MOMENTS
- Central opened the game with back-to-back three-pointers from James Jones and Darin Smith, Jr. and would hit 8-of-10 shots to open the game. The Blue Devils would lead by as much as 16-8 after a Max Frazier jumper before the Skyhawks ran off seven unanswered points to make it a one-point game midway through the half.
- A Melo Sanchez three-point play pushed the lead back to four points and CCSU would maintain its advantage throughout the rest of the half. Central endured a nearly six-minute stretch without a field goal to close the first half, but would hold a 31-24 lead at the intermission.
- The Blue Devils ended their field goal drought to open the second half after Jay Rodgers and Frazier connected for an alley-oop to make it 33-24. Stonehill would made 6-of-7 shots to begin the half and got within three points before Daniel James opened the a 7-0 run with a layup and capped with a three-pointer to make it a 10-point game with 13:36 remaining.
- CCSU would take its largest lead with 6:03 to play after Frazier made it 59-48. The Skyhawks would trim the deficit to five points at 74-69 with 25 seconds remaining, but Rodgers would it a pair of foul shots to seal the game.
NUMBER TO KNOW
13 – Central had a 20-7 edge in made free throws in the game.
NOTES
- CCSU leads the all-time series, 31-7, and has won six straight matchups.
- The Blue Devils have led for a combined 79:04 across the last two games and has not trailed.
- Rodgers has posted 5+ assists in 13 straight games. He was 11-of-12 at the foul line in the game.
- Smith, Jr. topped 20 points for the ninth time this season. He was 7-of-13 from the field.
- Frazier finished with a team-high seven rebounds, while blocking four shots.
- Jones shot 3-of-3 overall, 2-of-2 from the arc, to finish with eight points, to go with three steals.
UP NEXT
- The Blue Devils begin a three-game road trip with a game at Le Moyne on Saturday.
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