The Central Connecticut State men's basketball team travels to Wagner on Thursday before coming home to host LIU in a nationally-televised game on Saturday. The game will be shown on ESPNU with a 2:00 p.m. tipoff. Tickets for CCSU home games are available here.
The Blue Devils are collecting new winter clothes items at Saturday's game to benefit Maria's Place. For every new item donated, fans will receive a voucher for a ticket to a future 2026 regular season game.
CCSU will be looking to win its second straight in the series with Wagner as the teams meet for the first time this season. LIU defeated CCSU in the league-opener this season and is 32-26 all-time in the series.
CCSU Game Notes | Latest Media Coverage | HOME GAME TICKETS
at Wagner NEC Front Row | Live Stats
vs. LIU NEC Front Row | Live Stats
OPENING NOTE
• Central Connecticut faces Wagner for the first time this season on Thursday, before coming home to face LIU in a nationally-televised game on ESPNU on Saturday.
• Patrick Sellers is in his 5th season leading his alma mater. He has led CCSU to back-to-back NEC regular season crowns, along with, consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in the program's Division I history.
LOOSE BALLS ...
• Through 19 games, CCSU is committing 13.0 fouls per game, which ranks 2nd nationally. Last season, CCSU committed 11.3 fouls per game, setting an NEC mark and ranking 2nd nationally.
• The Blue Devils lead the NEC in assists per game (14.6) and assist-turnover ratio (1.4).
Jay Rodgers is steering the ship for Central and ranks 4th nationally in assists per game (7.3).
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Darin Smith, Jr. is the only NEC player to score in double-digits in each of his team's games
• Central has posted 20+ wins in consecutive seasons for the first time in its Division I history. The Blue Devils last accomplished the feat in 1982-83 (21-9) and 1983-84 (26-6).
• When scoring 70+ points under Patrick Sellers, CCSU is 50-15 (.769) overall. Central is 29-3 in such games dating back to Jan. 19, 2024.
• Since 2021-22, CCSU has won 8 straight 1-point games (Jan. 21, 2022, 67-68 loss at SFU).
• In all games, Central leads the league in scoring (76.3), field goal percentage (.478) and 3-point shooting (.386).
• CCSU has posted 5 of the top-10 highest field goal percentage marks in the NEC, including a high mark of .704 vs. Johnson & Wales (11/30).
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Melo Sanchez (.464, 3rd),
Jay Rodgers (.382, 10th) and
Darin Smith, Jr. (.378, 11th) make CCSU the ONLY squad with a trio of shooters among the top-15 three-point shooting leaders in the NEC rankings.
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Darin Smith, Jr. ranks 6th among underclassmen nationally at 20.2 points per game.
• Smith averaged 6.8 points last season, bumping his scoring by 13.4 points per game - which would rank 5th on the NEC all-time list for scoring increase from season to season.
• The record is +15.5ppg by Ray Minlead (SFBK, 1997-98).
2025-26 NEC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. LIU (unanimous)
2. CCSU
3. Stonehill
4. Mercyhurst
5. FDU
6. Chicago State
7. Saint Francis
8. Wagner
9. Le Moyne
10. New Haven
2025-26 Preseason All-NEC Men's Basketball Team
Bernie Blunt III, MU, Gr, G, 5-11, 180 lbs., Morgantown, PA/Peddie School (Edinboro/Quinnipiac)
Malachi Davis, LIU (unanimous), R-Sr, G, 6-4, 172 lbs., Scarborough, Canada/Central Tech (Tallahassee CC/Lake Land College/Arizona St.)
Jamal Fuller, LIU (unanimous), Gr, G/F, 6-5, 215 lbs., Toronto, Canada/Central Tech (Hill College/Academy of Art)
Hermann Koffi, STO, So, G, 6-4, 203 lbs., Quebec City, Quebec/Polyvalente de Thetford Mine
Darin Smith Jr., CCSU, So, F, 6-7, 210 lbs., Springfield, MA/Vermont Academy
