NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — In a game defined by efficiency and opportunism, the Central Connecticut Blue Devils used a dominant first-half performance and clutch free-throw shooting to hold off a persistent Stonehill Skyhawks squad 76-69 in a Northeast Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at William H. Detrick Gymnasium.

A crowd of 761 saw the Blue Devils (8-6, 1-1) build a commanding early lead and then withstand a second-half surge from the Skyhawks (3-12, 1-1), who cut a 15-point deficit to a single possession in the final minutes. The most important part of the game proved to be Central Connecticut’s initial burst and its subsequent ability to answer every Stonehill rally at the foul line, where it finished 20 of 24.

Central Connecticut established control from the opening tip, racing out to a 10-0 lead behind 3-pointers from James Jones and Darin Smith and a stifling defensive effort that forced early Stonehill turnovers and blocked shots. The Blue Devils’ lead ballooned to 31-18 late in the first half before settling at 31-24 at the break. Stonehill struggled to find offensive rhythm against Central Connecticut’s length, shooting just 10 of 30 in the opening period while the Blue Devils connected on 11 of 22 attempts.

The second half evolved into a back-and-forth offensive affair, with both teams scoring 45 points. Stonehill, led by the scoring of Davante Hackett and Hermann Koffi, slowly chipped away at the deficit. The Skyhawks’ effort on the offensive glass, where they secured 11 rebounds, generated crucial second-chance opportunities and helped them close the gap.

A pivotal sequence occurred with just over four minutes remaining. After a 3-pointer from Stonehill’s Koffi cut the Central Connecticut lead to 63-66, the Skyhawks fouled Jay Rodgers on a 3-point attempt. Rodgers, unflappable at the line, sank all three free throws to push the lead back to six. Stonehill answered, but Central Connecticut’s Smith scored on a tip-in on the next possession. Each time Stonehill threatened, the Blue Devils found a response, often via Rodgers or Smith attacking the basket and drawing fouls.

Rodgers, a guard from Pickerington, Ohio, led all scorers with 21 points and added six assists, orchestrating the Blue Devil offense and scoring key buckets down the stretch. Smith, a forward from Springfield, Massachusetts, was a force inside and out, contributing 22 points. Their combined 43 points provided the consistent offensive backbone Central Connecticut required.

Stonehill was powered by Hackett, who scored 19 points, and Koffi, who added 17, all in the second half. Chas Stinson finished with 12 points for the Skyhawks. Despite shooting a higher percentage from the field (45% to 41.7%) and dominating the offensive boards, Stonehill was ultimately undone by its performance at the free-throw line, making just 7 of 11 attempts, and by Central Connecticut’s superior ball security and distribution, which resulted in a 116.2 offensive rating on 65 possessions.

The game’s statistical profile highlighted the contrast in styles. While Stonehill won the battle in the paint 36-32 and scored 17 points off turnovers, Central Connecticut’s advantages in assists (9-5), steals (9-5), and blocks (6-2) underscored a more cohesive defensive and offensive operation. The Blue Devils also capitalized on their trips to the line, outscoring Stonehill by 13 points from the charity stripe, a margin that directly decided the seven-point game.

With the win, Central Connecticut evened its conference record and will look to build momentum as it travels to face Le Moyne on Saturday. Stonehill, which had won its previous NEC game against Wagner, will aim to regroup quickly as it returns home to host Chicago State on Saturday. The two teams are scheduled for a rematch in Easton, Massachusetts, on Jan. 25.