FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Tevin Falzon's career night helped lead the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team to a, 75-66, victory over in-state rival Central Connecticut State on Monday night at the William H. Pitt Center. Falzon recorded career highs in points, rebounds, and blocks, with 22, 13, and 5, for his third career double double. It was the first time a Pioneer had five blocks in a game since Liam Potter had five on February 11, 2010. The win snapped a four game losing streak, as SHU improves to 7-8 overall and 1-1 in the Northeast Conference. Matt Mobley scored a game-high 32 points for the Blue Devils, who lose their sixth straight to drop to 2-13 and 0-2 in the NEC.

Trailing by double digits for most of the second half, the Blue Devils got as close as seven with 1:21 remaining. Mobley made a three that made the score, 71-64, capping seven unanswered points by Central Connecticut, including six straight by the sophomore guard. SHU would by respond by going 4-4 from the line in the final 1:16 to clinch the win.

Cane Broome, Steve Glowiak, and De'von Barnett also scored in double figurers, with 16, 14, and 10, respectively for the Pioneers. Evan Kelley and Phil Gaetano each dished out a game-high six assists, as SHU had 19 assists on 27 made field goals. The six assists were a season-high for Kelley. SHU shot 45 percent (27-60), while holding the Blue Devils to 37.7 percent shooting (23-61). Sacred Heart also held a, 44-30, advantage on the glass.

Out of the locker room, the Pioneers regained a game-high twenty point lead scoring seven of the first nine points to go ahead, 45-25, with 17:11 left. After Greg Andrade made a layup, Sacred Heart scored the next seven, led by five straight from Falzon and a Barnett jumper to cap the flurry.

Mobley would bring CCSU right back into it, scoring eight straight points to cut the deficit back to twelve with a three-pointer with 16:07 on the clock. Glowiak would end the surge with a three to regain a15-point lead.

After trading points over the next few minute, Mobley would this time score six straight to cut lead to single digits at nine for the first time since the 8:23 mark of the first half. His three-point play made the score, 53-44, with 11:51 left.

The teams exchanged baskets on the next three possessions before a Falzon block and an ensuing Pioneer turnover led to yet another three from Mobley to cut the deficit back to eight again with 10:33 showing on the clock. Broome answered with a three pointer of his own the next possession down the floor to regain the 11-point lead at, 60-49.

The Blue Devils would get within nine two more times, at the 9:54 and 6:25 marks, but could never get closer until Mosby's three with 1:21 remaining.

Mobley made six three-pointers in the game and went 8-10 from the line, playing all 40 minutes. Kevin Seymour and Brandon Peel were also in double digits for Central Connecticut scoring 11 points each. Farnote Drakeford led CCSU with ten rebounds, while Seymour dished out a team-high four assists.

Broome scored seven straight points early, as SHU got out to a 13-6 lead just over six and half minutes into the contest. Kelley found Nowicki under the basket for a wide-open layup to give the Pioneers the seven-point advantage with 13:23 on the clock.

The Pioneers used a 16-2 run, including twelve straight at one point, to jump out to their largest lead of the game, 34-14, with 5:45 remaining in the first half. They held Central Connecticut without a point for 5:37 during the flurry. Glowiak, Kelley, and Falzon all keyed in the surge. Glowiak started it with a jumper and after Kelley made a triple, Broome found a cutting Falzon for a dunk and foul. After the junior forward made the free throw, he then blocked a Blue Devil shot on the ensuing possession to send Glowiak down the court for a transition layup. Kelley then made another jumper and after a CCSU timeout, he stole the ball and found Glowiak streaking again for yet another fast break layup to put SHU up 30-12 at the 7:01 mark. After a Central jumper, Barnett and Falzon made layups to go up twenty.

CCSU answered with nine straight to get back within 11, 3:17 before the half, capped by four straight points from Peel. SHU then scored the last four points of the half, including two Falzon free throws with 3.4 seconds remaining, to take the 15-point lead into the locker room.

Sacred Heart held the lead for 38:46, while Central led for just 38 seconds early in the first. Their largest lead was two. Each team shot well from the free throw line, with the Pioneers going 15-18 (83.3 percent), and the Blue Devils going 14-17 (82.4). SHU outscored CCSU, 34-20 in the paint.

The Pioneers will continue league play with their first conference road game at LIU Brooklyn on Thursday night. Tip is scheduled for 7 pm. The Blackbirds are off to a 0-2 conference start, and are 4-9 overall, after falling to Fairleigh Dickinson, 75-69, tonight.