Long Island Outshot by Central Connecticut State, 96-75

(boxscore)

2/5/07 -- Despite a game-high 28 points from senior James Williams (DeSoto, Texas) and 21 points from freshman Jaytornah Wisseh (Brooklyn, N.Y.), the Long Island University men’s basketball team fell to Central Connecticut State, 96-75, on Monday night at the Wellness, Recreation and Athletic Center.

The Blue Devils used a 12-2 run early in the second half to pull away from the Blackbirds. A driving layup from Wisseh at the 18:59 mark pulled LIU with 48-42, but Obie Nwadike scored seven points as part of the decisive run to put CCSU ahead, 60-44, with 14:57 to play. Long Island was unable to get the deficit below double-figures the rest of the way.

Long Island shot 45.3 percent as a team, while Central Connecticut shot an almost identical 45.5 percent. The difference came at the three-point arc where the Blue Devils shot 14-of-26 (.538), compared to 8-of-26 (.308) for the Blackbirds. CCSU also hit 22-of-24 foul shots, while LIU was 9-of-10.

All five starters for Central Connecticut scored in double-figures, led by Tristan Blackwood. Blackwood hit 7-of-13 three-pointers and finished with 26 points. Nwadike finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds for his 12th double-double of the year. CCSU had four players grab at least nine rebounds and finished with a 48-26 rebounding edge.

Wisseh got LIU off to a fast start, scoring the first four points of the game. Long Island built its lead to 16-13 on a three-pointer from junior Eugene Kotorobai (Richmond Hill, Ontario) before CCSU took the lead for good. The Blue Devils rattled off eight-straight points to go ahead 21-16 before Williams hit a three-pointer to get LIU back within two, but Blackwood scored 17 points in the first half and helped CCSU to a 48-38 halftime lead.

The loss was the seventh straight for Long Island and dropped its record to 7-16 overall, 3-9 in the Northeast Conference. Central Connecticut State improved to 14-10 overall, 11-1 in league play. CCSU has won nine straight overall.

The Blackbirds return to action for the “Battle of Brooklyn” when they face St. Francis (N.Y.) at Peter Aquilone Court on Sunday, February 11 at 4:00 p.m.