NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — Two in-state men’s basketball programs seeking momentum will meet Sunday when the New Haven Chargers visit the Central Connecticut Blue Devils at William H. Detrick Gymnasium.

The non-conference matchup, organized by the Northeast Conference, features teams with identical win totals but divergent recent paths. Central Connecticut (6-5) enters after a 17-day layoff following an 84-70 home loss to Fairfield on Dec. 18. The Blue Devils’ last outing saw Darin Smith score 20 points.

New Haven (6-8) arrives with a quicker turnaround, having snapped a five-game skid with a 70-55 road win at Stonehill on Friday. Guard Najimi George led the Chargers with 14 points in that victory, continuing a run of steady production. Over his last five games, George has averaged 10.4 points, including a 14-point performance in a narrow 67-63 loss at Boston College.

The Chargers’ season has been defined by a challenging road slate, with this game marking their eighth true road contest. Their wins have come largely against non-Division I opponents or lower-tier competition, with a notable 73-67 victory at Massachusetts-Lowell in November standing out.

Central Connecticut owns a more balanced resume, including a marquee 67-54 win at Rutgers on Nov. 21 and a tight 60-59 road victory at Boston College. However, consistency has been elusive, with the Blue Devils alternating wins and losses over their past six games.

A key battle will be in the backcourt, where George’s scoring for New Haven will be countered by Central Connecticut’s Smith, who averages a team-high 15.2 points per game. The Blue Devils have shown a higher offensive ceiling, scoring 108 points in an overtime win over Sacred Heart and 122 against Johnson & Wales.

For New Haven, secondary scoring beyond George will be critical. Jabri Fitzpatrick dished out six assists against Stonehill, while Stefano Faloppa added 11 points.

The extended break for Central Connecticut could lead to either rust or refreshed legs, while New Haven must manage fatigue in its second game in three days. Both teams open Northeast Conference play next week, making this a final tune-up for the league grind.

Tip-off is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. The game will not be televised nationally.