The Central Connecticut State University men’s basketball team won their sixth straight game on Thursday night after blowing out FDU 87-66 at home in a performance marked by early dominance and strong team play.
Junior guard Devin Haid set the tone in the first half, scoring the team’s first two buckets and finishing the game with a career-high 25 points. He also pulled down eight rebounds.
“I just listen to my coaches,” Haid said. “They tell me to get to my spots, and that’s what I did.”
The Blue Devils built a comfortable lead early, showcasing excellent ball movement, sharp shooting and strong team defense. Off the bench, freshman forward Darin Smith Jr. provided a spark, contributing immediately upon checking in.
“I just try to help the team in many ways—getting shots up, rebounding and giving a spark off the bench,” Smith said.
However, the last few minutes of the first half saw FDU guard Terrance Brown catch fire. Brown scored 19 points and led a late surge, cutting the Blue Devils’ 15-point lead to just four at the break, 39-35.
After halftime, the Blue Devils came out sluggish and allowed FDU to briefly take their first lead of the game, 44-43. Coach Sellers called a crucial timeout to refocus his team.
“We had a certain coverage, and Terrance Brown was going against it and hurting us,” Sellers said. “So, in the second half, we changed the coverage to limit him.”
The adjustment worked, and the Blue Devils quickly regained control. Inside, senior forwards Jayden Brown and Abdul Momoh dominated in the paint, taking advantage of FDU’s size disadvantage.
“Our main goal was to get the ball inside because we knew that was our advantage,” Brown said.
“Our game plan was to abuse mismatches and play in-and-out basketball,” Momoh added.
Every player in the Blue Devils’ eight-man rotation scored during the game –– five of them finishing in double figures –– a testament to their unselfish play and ball movement.
Haid led the way with 25 points, followed by senior guard Jordan Jones with 14 points. Brown, Momoh and senior guard Joe Ostrowsky chipped in 11 points each. Momoh notched his fourth double-double in conference play this season after pulling down 11 rebounds.
Coach Sellers praised his team’s offensive ability during the game.
“It was a good job that everybody scored and was into the game, Sellers said. “It makes you play defense better.”
With the victory, the Blue Devils solidified their hold on first place in the Northeast Conference, improving their record in league play to 8-2 and 17-6 overall on the season.
Central will look to keep its winning streak alive when the Blue Devils take on Mercyhurst at Detrick Gymnasium on Thursday, Feb. 13, in their second game of a three-game homestand.
