By Christopher McLaughlin
The CCSU men’s basketball team cruised to a 92-63 victory over the University of Massachusetts to kick off the new year on Jan. 3.
The Blue Devils shot lights out the entire game and turned in its most dominating performance of the season. Following the win, CCSU improves to 8-5 on the season winning its fourth straight game.
“The past four games, I’ve come in here and said this was our best game. Tonight is no different,” said Head Coach Howie Dickenman.
While UMass made the first basket, it would be the only lead of the game for the Minutemen. Robby Ptacek hit a three on the Blue Devils’ first possession to put the team up 3-2, a lead from which it would never look back.
CCSU ratcheted up the defensive intensity and smothered the UMass shooters making every point hard-earned. Within the first five minutes, the Blue Devils jumped out to a 10-point lead. While CCSU was playing oppressive defense, the shooters couldn’t miss.
The Blue Devils connected on 8 of 13 attempts from beyond the arc in the first half and the 10-point lead turned into a 24=point lead. UMass seemed stunned by the onslaught and were never able to get into a rhythm. The Blue Devils scored over 30 points before UMass was able to crack double digits.
“Our defense was good,” said Dickenman. “We made them take shots they weren’t comfortable taking, and we held a team that averages 77 points per game to 63. Devan Bailey got into passing lanes and created havoc. We have four goals as a team and one of them is 40 minutes of misery. We did a very good job with that one. ”
During the first half the Blue Devils were led by Shemik Thompson and Ptacek, who each scored 15 in the half and combined for four three-pointers.
“Seeing all those shots go in really gave us confidence,” said Ptacek. “Doing it to a team from a bigger conference gives us the confidence to know we can play with anybody.”
While it was expected that the CCSU shooters come back to earth and for UMass to make some type of run in the second half, it never happened. CCSU maintained its confidence from the first half and continued their domination of UMass.
The intensity level never dropped off. Even as the Blue Devils went up 30 points the team continued to make the UMass shooters work for every basket. UMass finished the game with 22 turnovers and only two assists, a ratio so low it’s unheard of.
“We expected a run from UMass,” said Dickenman. “They’re better than what they played, so I told the guys stay prepared and we’ll be fine.”
Ptacek and Thompson continued to put in work during the second half and were joined by Ken Horton, who scored 13 for the half. Ptacek led all scorers with 26 points and was closely followed by Horton and Thompson, who scored 24 each.
“That was the most fun I’ve had playing in a long time,” said Horton. “It feels good when everything goes your way, and it feels good to pull both halves together the way we did.”
Beating the team that took down the number one team in the conference would be a statement game for some, but not for Dickenman. While he wouldn’t call it a statement, he knows his team is special.
“I really like this team. I know we’re not as deep as some teams, but we have a lot of heart and the guys really have a bond,” said Dickenman. “We’ve talked about winning the conference, but we know we have to keep up the intensity level now that were getting into conference play.”
From now until the end of the season the Blue Devils will be playing conference games. The team will look to build upon their momentum from winning four straight and make some noise in the Northeast Conference.