The Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils men’s basketball team held on to narrowly defeat the Saint Francis University Red Flash, 63-62, on Thursday in Detrick Gymnasium.
The win extended the Blue Devils’ record to 7-1 in Northeast conference play and 13-8 overall.
Senior Kellen Amos led Central in scoring with 13, while junior Jayden Brown led in rebounds with nine.
The Blue Devils shot 50% in the first half, leading Central to a nine-point advantage at the halftime break.
The second half proved to be a physical one, with the two sides combining for 22 fouls. The Red Flash came out of the break hot from beyond the three-point line, allowing them to keep the contest close until the end.
Saint Francis eventually took a one-point lead with just over four minutes remaining. The two sides traded the lead back and forth throughout the rest of the game.
The Blue Devils retained a one-point advantage for the final 2:22. Jayden Brown’s block on the final Saint Francis possession gave Central a slim victory.
Central missed seven free throws, which served as part of the reason Saint Francis kept it close. In the end, critical defensive plays proved to be the difference maker.
Brown’s game-winning block tied his career-high at four.
“I saw Joe (Ostrowsky) was defending and forcing (the ballhandler) to me,” Brown said. “When he did, I went up for the block.”
Ostrowsky played well on both ends of the floor. He tallied 11 points, including a 3-4 effort from behind the three-point line, along with four steals and played a pivotal role in the game’s final sequence.
“The team did a great job finding me today,” Ostrowsky said. “A lot of steals were tipped. But overall, it was a great job by the team to get me going and get out and run once I got a steal.”
The Blue Devils now focus on a pivotal NEC road matchup on Saturday against Merrimack College, who will enter the game in second place, just behind the Blue Devils.
Head coach Patrick Sellers stressed the importance of keeping things in perspective ahead of the upcoming matchup.
“We are going to need to lock in and concentrate,” he said. “We gotta get guys feeling comfortable so they can be confident in hitting open shots.”
A win against Merrimack will go a long way in solidifying the Blue Devils’ chances of hosting Northeast Conference Tournament games inside Detrick Gymnasium. They already defeated Merrimack at home, 75-70 on Jan. 15.
Central will return to Detrick Gymnasium on Thursday, Feb. 8, when they take on in-state rival Sacred Heart University. The game will start at 7 p.m., and fans are encouraged to wear blue.
