Men's Basketball Downs Chicago State at Home on Thursday
The Central Connecticut State men's basketball team picked up a 78-67 win in NEC action at Detrick Gymnasium on Thursday. The Blue Devils closed first half with a 12-2 run enroute to shooting 68 percent from the field after halftime.
Darin Smith, Jr. scored 24 points to lead CCSU, while Max Frazier (15 points), Melo Sanchez (14) and Roddy Jones (11) added double-figures. Jay Rodgers finished with 13 assists against one turnover. Central shot 26-of-47 (.553) from the field, and 9-of-25 (.360) on three-pointers. CCSU converted 17-of-19 foul shots.
CJ Ray led CSU with 22 points and six rebounds. The Cougars shot 24-of-59 (.407) overall and 7-of-24 (.292) on three-pointers. CSU was 19-of-25 (.760) at the foul line.
GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score: CCSU 78, CHICAGO STATE 67
Records: CCSU (12-10, 6-5 NEC), CSU (3-20, 1-9 NEC
Location: Detrick Gymnasium | New Britain, CT
KEY MOMENTS
- Central would get a jumper from Max Frazier and two foul shots by Darin Smith, Jr. to get within 5-4 at the 17:31 mark. A three-pointer by Melo Sanchez tied the game before a layup by Smith, Jr. put the Blue Devils ahead for their first lead at the 14:25 mark as part of five straight points.
- Neither team led by more than one possession in a back-and-forth first half. CCSU outscored the Cougars, 5-0, over a three-minute span to go ahead 28-26 after three foul shots by Sanchez. After a CSU layup, the Blue Devils would extend their scoring run to 12-2 and built a 35-28 lead heading into halftime. Two foul shots by Smith, Jr. with 27.4 seconds left in the opening period would build the largest margin by either team in the opening half.
- After closing the opening half by shooting just 1-of-8 from the field, Chicago State would open the second half with a steal and a layup to spark a six-point run to cut into the Blue Devils' lead. Sanchez would hit his third three-pointer of the game to end Central's nearly three-minute drought to open the half.
- The Cougars would cut the deficit to 43-42 with 13:46 to play, but Roddy Jones would hit a jumper and a three-pointer sandwiched around a Max Frazier foul shot to push the CCSU lead back to seven points. Chicago State wouldn't get closer than three points with 5:58 remaining.
- The Blue Devils shot 68.2 percent from the field after halftime and would make four straight field goals to push their lead to 74-64 with 2:11 remaining after a Frazier dunk. CCSU held the Cougars to just one field goal over the final four minutes and a James Jones layup and two Frazier foul shots would push the lead to 78-67 in the final minute.
NUMBER TO KNOW
18 – CCSU outrebounded Chicago State, 38-20, for its largest positive rebounding margin in NEC play.
NOTES
- Smith, Jr. posted his 12th 20-point game of the season. He added eight rebounds.
- Frazier grabbed eight rebounds with two blocked shots. He shot 6-for-8 from the field.
- Sanchez and Jones each made three three-pointers.
- Rodgers posted his fifth game with 10+ assists.
- Central is 44-of-51 (.862) from the foul line in the past three games.
- CCSU won both matchups last season and leads the all-time series, 5-4
UP NEXT
- The Blue Devils tip off a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday against Wagner. The women's game will follow at 4:00 p.m.
Follow @CCSUBlueDevils on X/Twitter and CCSUBlueDevils.com for updates.
