Central Connecticut State Blue Devils Defeat New Haven Chargers 81-76 Behind Darin Smith Jr.'s 40 Points

The Central Connecticut State Blue Devils secured an 81-76 win over the New Haven Chargers, thanks in large part to Darin Smith Jr.'s impressive 40-point performance. Smith Jr.'s career-high scoring output helped the Blue Devils overcome a strong effort from New Haven's Jabri Fitzpatrick, who finished with 20 points and 6 assists. Central Connecticut State's victory improved their record to 14-10, while New Haven fell to 10-15. The Blue Devils shot 51.9% from the field, including 7 three-pointers, to secure the 5-point win.

The Central Connecticut State Blue Devils took control of the game early, leading 41-33 at halftime. New Haven struggled to contain Smith Jr., who scored 22 points in the first half. The Chargers mounted a comeback in the second half, outscoring the Blue Devils 43-40, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit. New Haven's Jabri Fitzpatrick scored 12 points in the second half, but the team's 36.8% three-point shooting was not enough to overcome the Blue Devils' strong defensive effort. Central Connecticut State's Jay Rodgers added 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Roddy Jones chipped in with 12 points. The Blue Devils' 81 points marked their highest scoring output in the last 5 games, with an average of 73.4 points per game during that stretch.

Darin Smith Jr. was the clear star of the game, scoring a career-high 40 points on 14-22 shooting. Jabri Fitzpatrick led the New Haven Chargers with 20 points and 6 assists, while Andre Pasha added 16 points. For Central Connecticut State, Jay Rodgers and Roddy Jones both scored 12 points, with Rodgers also contributing 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Smith Jr.'s 40 points accounted for nearly 50% of the Blue Devils' total scoring output, highlighting his dominance in the game. Fitzpatrick's 20 points marked his 10th game this season with 20 or more points, solidifying his position as a key contributor for the Chargers.

The Central Connecticut State Blue Devils outshot the New Haven Chargers 51.9% to 44.1% from the field, including a 35.0% to 36.8% margin from three-point range. The Blue Devils also outrebounded the Chargers 32-28, with Jay Rodgers leading the team with 5 rebounds. New Haven committed 12 turnovers, compared to 10 for Central Connecticut State, which helped the Blue Devils secure the win. The Chargers' 76 points marked their highest scoring output in the last 3 games, with an average of 68.3 points per game during that stretch. Central Connecticut State's 81 points marked their 10th game this season with 80 or more points, highlighting their ability to score consistently.

The CHD Scout prediction model correctly predicted a Central Connecticut State win, with a projected margin of 9.2 points. While the actual margin was 5 points, the model was correct in identifying the Blue Devils as the superior team. The predicted score of 62-71 was lower than the actual score, but the model accurately captured the essence of the game. The CHD Scout model has now correctly predicted 12 of the last 15 games involving Central Connecticut State, with an average margin of error of 4.5 points. The model's success rate highlights its ability to accurately assess team strengths and weaknesses.

The win improved Central Connecticut State's record to 14-10, while New Haven fell to 10-15. This game was classified as a Quadrant 4 game for both teams, with Central Connecticut State's NET ranking remaining at 276 and New Haven's at 336. The Blue Devils' victory did not significantly impact their tournament resume, but it did help to solidify their position in the conference standings. New Haven's loss, on the other hand, dealt a blow to their already slim tournament hopes. The Chargers' 10-15 record marks their worst start to a season in the last 5 years, highlighting the need for improvement in the remaining games.

The Central Connecticut State Blue Devils will face off against the Bryant Bulldogs on February 19, while the New Haven Chargers will take on the Saint Michael's Purple Knights on February 15. Both teams want to build on their current momentum, with the Blue Devils seeking to extend their winning streak and the Chargers aiming to bounce back from their loss. The upcoming games matters in determining the teams' conference standings and tournament prospects, with the Blue Devils currently sitting in 4th place in their conference and the Chargers in 7th place.