CHICAGO (Interstat) — Chicago State defeated Central Connecticut 70-51 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Jones Convocation Center. The Cougars avenged a loss to the Blue Devils from earlier this month. CJ Ray led Chicago State with 15 points and nine rebounds. Marcus Tankersley added 14 points and seven assists for the Cougars, who improved to 7-22. Darin Smith scored a game-high 19 points for Central Connecticut, which fell to 16-11. The Blue Devils, which had been projected as heavy favorites, struggled offensively throughout. The game was organized by the Northeast Conference.

CHICAGO (Interstat) — In a stark reversal of a meeting just over two weeks prior, the Chicago State Cougars delivered a commanding defensive performance to dominate the Central Connecticut Blue Devils 70-51 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Jones Convocation Center. The victory, which snapped a two-game skid for the Cougars, avenged a 78-67 home loss to Central Connecticut on Feb. 5. It was built on a foundation of relentless pressure that completely disrupted the Blue Devils’ offensive flow from the opening tip. Central Connecticut, which entered the contest with a 16-10 record and a 77.9% win probability according to National Statistical’s ELO system, never found its rhythm. The Blue Devils were held to a season-low in points, shooting just 30.9% from the floor and a frigid 20.8% from three-point range. Their offensive struggles were encapsulated by a paltry three assists against 13 turnovers. Chicago State, meanwhile, feasted on those mistakes, converting 10 steals into transition opportunities. The Cougars scored 70 points on 65 possessions, an efficient offensive rating of 108.2, while holding Central Connecticut to an offensive rating of just 80.8. The most important part of the game was a decisive 14-0 run by Chicago State early in the second half that transformed a competitive contest into a rout. Leading 32-30 with just over 17 minutes remaining, the Cougars unleashed a barrage of defensive stops and quick scores. The sequence included steals by Corey Sands and Dailliss Cox, which led directly to fast-break layups by Malek Robinson. When the dust settled on the three-minute surge, Chicago State led 46-30, and Central Connecticut, visibly rattled, never recovered. The Blue Devils would get no closer than 14 points the rest of the way. CJ Ray led Chicago State with 15 points and nine rebounds, just missing a double-double. Marcus Tankersley orchestrated the offense with 14 points and seven assists, while Stephen Byard and Doyel Cockrill each added 14 points. Cockrill hit four three-pointers, and Braelon Bush contributed six assists. For Central Connecticut, only Darin Smith provided consistent offense, finishing with 19 points and six rebounds in 37 minutes. Max Frazier added seven points, eight rebounds and two blocks, but the Blue Devils’ offense was otherwise stagnant, managing only three total assists as a team. The loss drops Central Connecticut to 16-11 overall, while Chicago State improves to 7-22. The 121 combined points fell well under the over/under line of 138.5. Central Connecticut will look to regroup at home against Mercyhurst on Thursday. Chicago State hits the road for its next contest, facing Long Island on Thursday.

Preview: Central Connecticut at Chicago State CHICAGO (Interstat) — The Central Connecticut Blue Devils look to continue their push toward a winning season when they visit the struggling Chicago State Cougars in a non-conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at Jones Convocation Center. Central Connecticut (16-10) enters on a four-game winning streak, including a nail-biting 78-77 victory over Le Moyne on Thursday. The Blue Devils also defeated Chicago State 78-67 in New Britain on Feb. 5. Chicago State (6-22) seeks to halt a two-game skid and find consistency after a heartbreaking 60-59 home loss to Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday. A key player to watch is Central Connecticut guard Melo Sanchez, who is coming off a 23-point performance in the win over Le Moyne. Sanchez scored 14 points in the first meeting against Chicago State this month. He has averaged 13.1 points over his last eight games, providing a reliable scoring option for the Blue Devils. For Chicago State, guard Doyel Cockrill will aim for a bounce-back game. He was held to three points in 18 minutes in the loss at Central Connecticut earlier this month but is capable of explosive outings, as shown by his 17-point, five-assist effort against Fairleigh Dickinson. The Blue Devils have found success with balanced scoring. In their recent win over Le Moyne, Darin Smith added 20 points and Max Frazier contributed 14 points and three blocks alongside Sanchez’s 23. The Cougars will need Cockrill and forward Stephen Byard, who had 15 points in the last game, to generate offense against a Central Connecticut team that has held three of its last four opponents under 70 points. This game, organized by the Northeast Conference, is a final non-conference tune-up for both teams before returning to their respective league schedules next week. Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon in Chicago.