Smith Paces Men's Basketball in Win at Saint Francis

Darin Smith, Jr. poured in 34 points and led the Central Connecticut State men's basketball to a 98-90 win at Saint Francis in NEC action on Saturday. The Blue Devils had five players in double-figures and did not trail in the rematch of last season's NEC title game.

Smith, Jr. also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds for CCSU. Melo Sanchez matched a season-high of his own with 18 points, while Max Frazier had 14 points and six rebounds. Jay Rodgers finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Roddy Jones chipped in 11 points. Central was shot 30-of-50 overall (.600) and was 11-of-19 (.579) from three-point range. CCSU converted 27-of-34 foul shots.

Ahmad Harrison led four Red Flash in double-figures with 17 points. SFU shot 46.3 percent from the field overall and was 12-of-31 (.387) from the arc, while going 16-of-22 at the foul line. The Red Flash outrebounded CCSU, 37-27.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score:  CCSU 98, SAINT FRANCIS 90
Records: CCSU (10-6, 4-1 NEC), SFU (4-14, 2-3 NEC)
Location: DeGol Arena | Loretto, PA

KEY MOMENTS

• Central opened the game with a three-pointer from Sanchez on the opening possession to spark a run of 10 unanswered points to open the game. Smith, Jr. would score seven in a row and make it 10-0 following two foul shots just 3:22 into the game.
• A pair of Frazier foul shots and a jumper by Roddy Jones would give CCSU its largest lead at 19-5 at the 13:34 mark.  The Blue Devils would continue to maintain a comfortable lead at 24-13 following a Daniel James jumper with 11:31 to go in the period.
• After two foul shots by the Blue Devils made it 31-23 with 8:03 to go in the half, Saint Francis would score six straight points to get within 31-29 after a Zion Russell jumpshot. CCSU would push the lead back to seven after a three-pointer by Roddy Jones with 5:06 to go in the half, but the Red Flash would score seven straight and tie it on a Harrison trifecta at 38-38.
• A three-pointer by Sanchez would break the tie and SFU would cut the lead to a single point twice in the final 1:40 of the half before Rodgers hit a three-pointer just before the halftime whistle to make it 47-43.
• The Blue Devils would exert their will with a 13-2 run over a nearly six-minute span in early in the second half. Following a SFU layup with 15:28 to play that made it 58-54, Melo Sanchez would open the spurt with a steal and coast-to-coast layup. The final eight points of the run for CCSU would come uninterrupted, and a three-point play by Smith pushed the lead to 66-54.
• Saint Francis would mount a charge just past the midway point of the second half. Six straight points by Gestin Liberis in a span of 1:51 would cut the Central lead to 73-67. Sanchez would snap the scoring run with 7:36 to play.
• SFU would get within 82-77 with 2:54 to play, but that was as close as it would get the rest of the way. Central closed the game by going 12-for-14 from the foul line over the final 1:18 to close the game.

NUMBER TO KNOW

.600 – Central shot 60.0% from the field in the game, its eighth game topping 50.0% from the field.

NOTES

• CCSU has won six of the past seven meetings in the series, and is 30-29 all-time.
• Smith, Jr. topped 30 points for the second time this season and has 10 outings of at least 20 points on the season, including three straight games. He was 10-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-4 on three-pointers.
• Rodgers collected his third double-double of the year and posted his fourth 10-assist game of the season. He committed just one turnover in the game.
• Roddy Jones finished with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, 3-of-4 from the arc.
• The Blue Devils had five or more players in double-figures for the third game this season.
• Central gave out 21 assists against just seven turnovers. It was their most assists in a game since 27 against Johnson & Wales on Nov. 30, 2025.
• The game was a rematch of the 2025 NEC title game, won by SFU, 46-43. CCSU was leading today's game at halftime, 47-43.

UP NEXT

• The Blue Devils travel to Mercyhurst on Monday afternoon for a 2:00 p.m. tilt.

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