Men's Basketball Falls Short, 59-55, In Season Opener

The Central Connecticut State men's basketball team led for 30:47 and trailed for just 5:05 of its season opener but fell 59-55 at Providence Monday evening.

Abdul Momoh made a pair of free throws with 1:35 to play to bring the Blue Devils square, 55-55. CCSU fouled Jayden Pierre on a layup attempt with 70 seconds to play and the Friar knocked them both down.  The Blue Devils had two looks at the basket on their next possession, but a foul was called after the second miss. 

Corey Floyd missed the front end of the ensuing 1-and-1 for Providence, but the rebound was held by Pierre, who made both of his free throws with 18 seconds to play, to secure the final margin.

The Blue Devils caused havoc in the first half, recording seven steals in the campaign's opening period and seven steals. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils committed just four first-half turnovers.

The largest lead of the half was six points when CCSU completed an 8-0 run to take a 20-14 edge with 5:28 to play. The Friars' largest lead of the opening stanza was 14-12, at the 10:02 mark. Over the next 4:42, the Blue Devils went on an 8-0 run, with six of those points coming from Jordan Jones. The Blue Devils hit 4-7 from the field during that stretch, building a 20-14 lead with 5:28 to play in the half, the largest lead of the game through the first half.

The Friars would rally to tie the score 22-22 on a pair of Corey Floyd free throws with 3:12 to play in half, but CCSU would never relinquish the lead. Jordan Jones scored the final points of the opening half with 67 seconds to play, giving CCSU a 26-24 lead. Abdul Momoh blocked the final shot of the half to send CCSU to intermission with the advantage.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE

Score:  Providence 59, CCSU 55
Records: CCSU (0-1), Providence (1-0)
Location: Amica Mutual Pavilion | Providence, RI

KEY MOMENTS

• The Friars knocked down a three from the top of the key midway through the first half to go in front 14-12. The Blue Devils responded with eight unanswered points, including six straight from Jordan to build a 20-14 advantage with 5:28 to play in the opening half
• Providence went 5-5 from the free throw line, and 1-3 from the floor, over the next 2:25 to pull even at 22-22, the ninth tie of the game with 3:12 to play in the half. Tied at 24-24 James Jones came away with a steal in transition that led to a Jordan Jones basket to put the Blue Devils back on top, 26-24 with 67 seconds left in the half. A Momoh block on the final attempt sent the Blue Devils to the locker room with that advantage.
• The Blue Devils hit 4-8 from the field over the first 5:00 of the second half extending their lead to 34-29 with 15:07 to play in regulation.
• Devin Haid drove the paint to give CCSU a 38-31 lead, the largest of the game, with 13:02 to play. Providence answered with five straight points, forcing a CCSU timeout at the 12:18 mark, in a two-point game, 38-36. The Friars would tie the game with 11:38 to play, 38-38.
• Jayden Brown (2-2 free throws) and a Joe Ostrowsky basket pushed the lead to 42-38. Over the next 3:53 Providence outscored the Blue Devils 9-6, the final two points coming on a goaltending call, to take a 47-46 lead with 6:16 to play in the half. It was the first lead for the Friars since the 10:02 mark of the first half
• Haid was fouled, taking a three at the top of the key and made all three free throws to go up 53-49. Joseph Bensley answered with a three for PC and after a stop, hit another from the corner to put the Friars up 55-53 with 1:56 to play

NUMBER TO KNOW

273 – The number of consecutive games that the Blue Devils had made at least one three-pointer, dating back to January 31, 2015, at Wagner (0-6)

NOTES

• Ostrowsky scored the first basket of the season for the Blue Devils
• The Blue Devils started 2-6 from the free throw line, before going 4-4 to close out the opening half and 8-8 (12 total) to open the second half. They finished 21-26 from the stripe.
• Jordan Jones led all scorers with 21 points, his fourth 20+ point game as a Blue Devil. He finished 8-18 from the field and 5-6 at the free throw line.
• Momoh finished with 11 points and five rebounds, to go along with two steals and a blocked shot.
• Haid scored nine for CCSU and collected a game-high eight rebounds.
• CCSU harassed Providence into 16 turnovers, recording 12 steals on the night, with Joe Ostrowsky leading the way with three swipes. The Blue Devils had only seven turnovers and CCSU finished with a 14-3 edge in points off turnover
• Points in the paint were fairly equal, with the Friars finishing with a 24-22 edge
• The final margin was the Friars' largest lead of the game

UP NEXT

The Blue Devils travel to Saint Joseph's on Friday for a 7:00 pm game.