VESTAL, N.Y. (Interstat) — Central Connecticut built a first-half lead and never looked back in an 84-67 men’s basketball victory over Binghamton on Saturday at the Events Center. The Blue Devils led 46-39 at halftime and extended their advantage by outscoring the Bearcats 38-28 after intermission. The win improved Central Connecticut to 6-4, while Binghamton fell to 3-8. Zyier Beverly led all scorers with 21 points for Binghamton. Wes Peterson added 15 points and Jeremiah Quigley had 10 points and seven assists in the loss. Attendance was 1,624. Central Connecticut opens Northeast Conference play Jan. 2 at Long Island. Binghamton visits Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

VESTAL, N.Y. (Interstat) — A dominant offensive performance, fueled by efficient shooting and a standout double-double from guard Jay Rodgers, propelled Central Connecticut to a decisive 84-67 victory over Binghamton in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Events Center. The Blue Devils, who improved to 6-4, never trailed and led by as many as 22 points in the second half. They built a 46-39 halftime lead and then pulled away for good with a 14-2 run early in the second period, effectively silencing the home crowd of 1,624. The most critical sequence of the game occurred shortly after halftime, turning a competitive contest into a comfortable cruise for the visitors. Leading 47-45 with just over 16 minutes remaining, Central Connecticut unleashed its decisive run. It began with a Max Frazier alley-oop finish from Rodgers and a James Jones dunk, also assisted by Rodgers. After a Binghamton timeout failed to stem the tide, the Blue Devils continued the onslaught. A Frazier layup, a James Jones 3-pointer and an Elijah Parker steal and fastbreak layup capped the burst, extending the lead to 61-47 with 14:25 to play. Binghamton never came within single digits again, as the Bearcats’ offense struggled to find consistent answers against Central Connecticut’s defensive pressure and rim protection. Central Connecticut’s offensive execution was the story, as they scored 84 points on just 65 possessions, an elite offensive rating of 128.8. They shot a blistering 60% from the field, connecting on 33 of 55 attempts, including 10 of 21 from 3-point range. They also outscored Binghamton 42-34 in the paint and 14-5 on fast breaks. Rodgers, a guard from Pickerington, Ohio, orchestrated the attack with precision, logging 34 minutes and finishing with 14 points and 10 assists. His playmaking was the engine for the Blue Devils’ efficient offense. Forward Darin Smith of Springfield, Massachusetts, led all scorers with 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, adding three rebounds and a block. James Jones of New Britain, Connecticut, provided a versatile line of 11 points, four assists and two blocks, while Gabe Spinelli of Watertown, Massachusetts, contributed 11 points off the bench. Binghamton, which fell to 3-8, was led by Zyier Beverly’s 21 points. The 6-foot-9 forward from Los Angeles was active inside but the Bearcats could not match Central Connecticut’s firepower. Jeremiah Quigley of Accokeek, Maryland, dished out seven assists and Wes Peterson of Alexandria, Virginia, scored 15 points for the home team. The Bearcats shot a respectable 45.8% but were hampered by 11 turnovers and a 5-for-18 performance from beyond the arc. They also attempted 24 free throws to Central Connecticut’s 11, but the disparity was not enough to overcome the Blue Devils’ superior field goal efficiency. Defensively, Central Connecticut was disruptive, recording seven steals and six blocks, with Frazier swatting three shots. Binghamton managed only five assists on 22 made field goals, a testament to the Blue Devils’ ability to disrupt offensive flow. The victory marked a bounce-back performance for Central Connecticut following a 73-56 loss at Northeastern on Dec. 7. The Blue Devils will look to carry this momentum into their next game against Fairfield on Thursday. Binghamton, which has lost two straight, faces a quick turnaround with a road game at Pittsburgh on Wednesday. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Central Connecticut entered the game with a 74.4% probability to win. The total score of 151 points surpassed the over/under line of 135.

VESTAL, N.Y. (Interstat) — Two men’s basketball teams looking to steady their non-conference trajectories will meet Saturday when the Central Connecticut Blue Devils visit the Binghamton Bearcats at the Events Center. Central Connecticut (5-4) enters on a two-game skid following losses at power-conference foes Seton Hall and Northeastern. The Blue Devils showed resilience earlier in the season with an overtime win over Sacred Heart and a notable road victory at Rutgers. Binghamton (3-7) seeks to end a two-game losing streak of its own, most recently a 78-63 home loss to Le Moyne. A key matchup will feature Central Connecticut’s versatile forward Max Frazier against Binghamton’s guard Bryson Wilson. Frazier has been a consistent two-way force for the Blue Devils, averaging 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds while serving as a rim protector. He blocked five shots at Seton Hall and scored 24 points in the win over Sacred Heart. Wilson leads the Bearcats in scoring at 12.2 points per game. He is coming off a 17-point, 4-assist, 3-block performance against Le Moyne. In Central Connecticut’s last outing, a 73-56 loss at Northeastern, Darin Smith and Jay Rodgers joined Frazier in double figures. Smith had 12 points and five rebounds, while Rodgers dished out seven assists. For Binghamton, Wilson’s 17 points against Le Moyne were supplemented by 16 points from Demetrius Lilley and 14 from Jackson Benigni. The game represents a final tune-up before both teams turn their focus to upcoming stretches. Central Connecticut hosts Fairfield on Dec. 18 before opening Northeast Conference play in January. Binghamton faces a daunting road test at Pittsburgh on Dec. 17 before a three-game road swing. Saturday’s contest tips off at 2 p.m. EST.