The Central Connecticut State University men’s basketball team bested the Quinnipiac University Bobcats 84-80 in a thrilling non-conference matchup at Detrick Gymnasium on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Central was led by junior guard Devin Haid’s 24 points. Haid was lights out from behind the arc, shooting 5-8 from three-point range and a perfect 8-8 inside the arc. He did his job on the defensive side as well, grabbing six rebounds and getting 4 steals which led to buckets in transition for the Devils.
”It’s a great team, super fun to be a part of,” Haid said. “We all share the ball, we know our roles and we do what we gotta do.”
Central got a lot of help from sophomore forward Max Frazier who finished with a career-high 17 points, 9 rebounds and a key block as time expired.
“[Coach Patrick Sellers] has a very bright vision for me,” Frazier said. “Coming in here [I expected to be] playing a couple minutes, getting a couple points, [but] 17 points is a career-high for me.”
Coach Sellers praised Frazier’s performance in the match.
“Max is our backup center and came in and had 17 points,” Sellers said. “He doesn’t know how good he is. Talent-wise, he’s as talented as anybody we got here.”
Central’s offense was efficient with the team shooting around 60% from the field and 54.5% from behind the three-point line. However, the Blue Devils struggled to keep control of the ball throughout the game, resulting in 16 turnovers compared to the Bobcats 11.
Defensively, Quinnipiac jumped out in front early, but with Haid jumping passing lanes, and a stout interior defense from Frazier and senior forward Jayden Brown, the Bobcats struggled to score and ended the game shooting 43.8% from the field and 34.6% from three.
The Blue Devils started the game leading 8-3 lead after two early three’s from Haid and a monster transition dunk from Frazier set the tone early on. Central’s offense began to stall and Quinnipiac would go on a 11-0 run to take their largest lead of the game at 23-13 midway through the first half.
A whole-team effort brought the Blue Devils back into the game and within two points. A timeout by the Bobcats didn’t do much to slow Central’s momentum as Haid came up with back-to-back steals leading to four easy fast-break points.
Senior guard Davonte Sweatman had 14 points and 5 assists, and despite coming off the bench, he led the team in minutes and +/- at +12 with him on the floor.
A lob from Sweatman to Frazier put CCSU up 31-26 midway through the first half. With two minutes left in the half, junior forward Brody Limric came in and drained a corner three, and Haid beat the buzzer with a long mid-range pull up jumper to give the Blue Devils a 41-34 lead going into halftime.
Coach Sellers said he loved Limric’s energy..
“[Limric] comes in everyday, brings in high-energy, works hard everyday, got his opportunity and answered the call.”
Haid picked up where he left off to open the second half, drilling another three pointer, and Brown was able to find his touch around the rim with a floater. Brown scored again and sophomore forward Darin Smith Jr. followed that up with a bucket and a foul, extending Central’s lead to 57-49.
Central’s defense caused a pair of turnovers and Brown picked up four more points in the post and from the foul line. Sweatman would put on an offensive showcase with a layup through the lane, throwing an alley-oop lob to Haid, making a pair of free throws and draining a deep three to give Central a 12-point lead.
The Bobcats made things interesting with two minutes left, going on a four-point run late and cutting Central’s lead to four. It wouldn’t be enough as Frazier blocked a corner three with time expiring to close out the win for the Blue Devils.
With the victory, Central improves to 8-4 on the season and has won six of its last seven games. The Blue Devils are back home for their next game against Johnson & Wales on Sunday, Dec. 29.
