Four Score in Double-Figures, Men's Basketball Wins at Le Moyne
The Central Connecticut State men's basketball won its third straight NEC game with a 69-59 win at Le Moyne on Saturday. The Blue Devils had four players in double-figures, paced by a game-high 24 point, 12-rebound effort from Darin Smith, Jr.
Along with Smith, Jr., Max Frazier (14 points), Jay Rodgers (12 points), and Melo Sanchez (11 points) scored in double-figures. Central was limited to 37.3 percent from the field, hitting 22-of-59 overall and was 4-of-22 (.182) on three-pointers. CCSU converted 21-of-26 foul shots.
Shilo Jackson had 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead Le Moyne. The Dolphins shot 20-of-62 (.323) overall and 5-of-27 (.185) on three-pointers. Le Moyne was 14-of-16 at the foul line.
GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score: CCSU 69, LE MOYNE 59
Records: CCSU (9-6, 3-1 NEC), LEM (7-10, 2-2 NEC)
Location: Ted Grant Court | Syracuse, NY
KEY MOMENTS
- Le Moyne would open the game's scoring and led for 2:34 in the early-going, which was CCSU's first deficit faced in three games. The Blue Devils would respond by running a 13-0 run to go ahead 15-4 on a Rodgers layup with 11:04 to go in the opening period.
- Central started 0-for-11 on three-pointers and would endure a stretch of nearly four-minutes without scoring late in the opening half, but would maintain its lead by holding Le Moyne scoreless for four-minutes. A three-pointer by Jay Rodgers would end the scoring drought and after a Smith, Jr. layup, CCSU would lead 26-17 at halftime.
- Le Moyne opened the second half with a trifecta to end a four-plus minute scoring drought of its own. The Dolphins would chip away at the Central lead and a 9-2 run would get the hosts within 34-30 with 13:59 to play following a Jackson jumper. The margin would further close to within 40-38 after a three-point play by Jakob Blakley with 12:07 to play.
- A three-pointer by Sanchez would end the Le Moyne charge. After a pair of Dolphins foul shots cut the lead to four points, Central would score seven unanswered points to push its lead back to double-digits at 58-47 with 5:18 remaining. A James Jones layup sparked the run before Smith, Jr. ran off five straight points.
- The Blue Devils would not allow the Dolphins to get closer than five points the rest of the way and CCSU went 7-of-8 from the foul line in the final 0:49 to close the game.
NUMBER TO KNOW
46 – CCSU outrebounded Le Moyne, 46-36, and posted its most rebounds since Nov. 30 (47 vs. Johnson & Wales.
NOTES
- CCSU has won four straight in the series, which is tied 7-7 all-time.
- Smith, Jr. has 10 20-point outings on the season. He collected his second career double-double.
- Frazier shot 5-of-6 from the field and added nine rebounds, three steals and three blocks.
- In a combined 49 minutes of action, four players off the CCSU bench committed just one turnover.
UP NEXT
- The Blue Devils are back in action at Mercyhurst on Thursday.
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