By Christopher McLaughlin
Though the CCSU men’s basketball team had one of its better offensive performances of the season, it could not withstand a second-half onslaught by Long Island University.
The Blue Devils (18-11) held on to a two-point lead at the half and even matched its first half totals in the second, but was ultimately defeated 86-72 to finish the regular season.
There was no stopping LIU (24-5). After shooting 36 percent in the first, LIU nearly doubled it shooting percentage, shooting 64 percent in the second half. Despite having four players in double figures, the Blue Devils just couldn’t match LIU’s efficiency.
“They attacked in the second,” said Head Coach Howie Dickenman “Some was a result of us missing shots, but it got to the point where you knew it was going in regardless of who took the shots. When they shot the ball, I started raising my hands to signal it was good before it even went it.”
Neither team scored a point until the 17:30 mark, when LIU got on the board with a lay-up. Ken Horton tied it on a three-pointer the next possession for the Blue Devils, with the teams going back and forth for a few minutes. An LIU three-pointer opened a 10-2 run, but the Blue Devils got a big spark from Chris Baskerville, who scored six straight to cut into the lead.
“Chris is a real lift guy for us,” said Dickenman. “He’s still trying to learn the nuisances of the game, but he gave us a nice lift today.”
With the lead erased, the teams began trading baskets again, this time for the rest of the half. The Blue Devils got another big boost from Horton, whose 14 first-half points helped counter LIU’s balanced scoring.
Horton finished the game with his twelfth double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds. He finishes the regular season first in the NEC in points averaging 20 per game and second in rebounding with nine per game, only .1 behind the leader. He is also first in blocks and in the top ten of every other category except assists and three-point percentage, a feat no one else in the NEC is close to.
“Kenny was Kenny today,” said Dickenman
LIU finished the season in first place with a commanding lead on the rest of the pack. It has won 10 straight games and appears to be the favorite to win the NEC Tournament. While the team didn’t live up to its standards in the first half, LIU more than made up for it in the second.
A 9-0 run for LIU started the half and the Blackbirds didn’t look back. With the improved play from Shemik Thompson and Robby Ptacek, the Blue Devils kept it close as long as possible. Both players had been struggling recently, but seemed to break out of their slumps in the second half.
Despite the recent shooting woes, Ptacek finishes the season seventh overall in scoring averaging 14.9 per game and Thompson rounds out the top 20 at 12.3. Ptacek also finished first in free throw percentage while Thompson was third in assists and second in steals.
“Shemik showed he is a quality player today,” said Dickenman. “He hadn’t been shooting well, but finished 6-11 today. He played with a spark and I’m pleased to see it. Robby’s game was better, he’s been in a funk and he came out of it. He should be proud, we need him.”
The Blue Devil’s seemed determined to match the offensive output from LIU, but the points began to add up. LIU had a clear size advantage and made full use of it, constantly feeding the ball down in the paint.
CCSU did its best to stop them, but its best often resulted in whistles, as LIU drew fouls. LIU was sent to the line 15 times in the second half. Fifteen free throws isn’t a lot, but considering CCSU was only sent once, it sure seemed like it. Despite everything, the game was still manageable for CCSU, until David Hicks hit three straight three-pointers, all in the exact same spot.
“One player who will remain nameless didn’t get out to Hicks and he made us pay,” said Dickenman.
The third was the dagger and though CCSU never gave up, the game was essentially over. The loss is the third straight for CCSU and its fourth in the last five games. Though the team is limping into the NEC Tournament, Dickenman did take away some positive signs.
“I saw the intensity which has been lacking of late,” said Dickenman. “I saw positive sparks of intensity, focus and ball pressure and I want to build on that. We do have a home game and I know the crowd will be there to support us.”
Now in fourth place, CCSU will take on fifth place St. Francis (N.Y.) Thursday night to kick off the tournament.