Jan. 16, 2010

Final Stats

NEW BRITAIN, CT - Central Connecticut State took advantage of 21 Sacred Heart turnovers and got a career-high 27 points from Shemik Thompson to defeat the visiting Pioneers 88-65 Saturday afternoon. The loss dropped SHU to 10-7 overall and 3-3 in the Northeast Conference.

Central Connecticut, 5-12 overall and 2-4 in conference play, led 43-31 at the half. The Blue Devils turned 15 SHU miscues into 18 points.

The Blue Devils pushed the lead to 17 at 48-31 by scoring the first five points of the second half. The Pioneers cut the gap to 50-41 after back-to-back treys by Ryan Litke and Corey Hassan with 14:26 left in the game.

Central used a 15-2 run over the next five minutes to lead to 65-43 and the Pioneers never threatened again.

SHU was led by 19 points from Hassan, while Mehmet Sahan had his first career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The two teams will square off for a rematch in the Pitt Center in Fairfield Thursday night at 5:45.