NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — Mason Porter-Brown erupted for a game-high 29 points, leading a dominant second-half surge as the Long Island Sharks pulled away from the Central Connecticut Blue Devils for an 80-59 victory in a Northeast Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at William H. Detrick Gymnasium.

In a rematch of a closely contested game just a month prior, the Sharks used a stifling defensive effort after halftime to turn a one-point game into a decisive rout before an announced crowd of 1,611. Long Island improved to 14-8 overall, while Central Connecticut fell to 11-10.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring eight lead changes. The Blue Devils, despite struggling from the field, managed to stay close behind the play of Max Frazier and Jay Rodgers. Long Island took a narrow 37-36 lead into the break, but the outcome was far from certain.

The game’s defining stretch came early in the second half. Leading 40-38, the Sharks unleashed a 17-2 run over a six-minute span that broke the game open. The surge was fueled by relentless defense, which forced a series of Central Connecticut turnovers and contested shots. The Blue Devils managed just one field goal during the run, a layup by Frazier, as their offensive rhythm completely disintegrated.

Long Island’s defensive pressure was the catalyst. The Sharks recorded 10 steals for the game, with four coming during the critical run, and held Central Connecticut to 23 second-half points on 6-of-25 shooting from the field. For the game, the Blue Devils shot just 32.2 percent overall and 24 percent from three-point range. In contrast, Long Island operated with efficiency, shooting 50 percent from the field and committing only nine turnovers.

Porter-Brown, a 6-foot-6 guard from Alachua, Florida, was the offensive engine for the Sharks. He scored 20 of his 29 points in the second half, connecting on 4 of 7 attempts from three-point range. His performance marked a significant uptick from his recent outings, providing the scoring punch needed to secure the road win.

He was complemented by a strong all-around effort from backcourt mate Jamal Fuller. The Toronto native finished with 23 points, six assists and four rebounds in 38 minutes. The Sharks’ frontcourt also made a major impact, as Shadrak Lasu recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds while adding two blocks.

Central Connecticut was led by Frazier, who posted 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Rodgers added 14 points and eight assists, but also committed six of his team’s 11 turnovers against the Sharks’ persistent defense.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Long Island, which also defeated Central Connecticut 84-78 on Jan. 2. The Sharks have now won three of their last four games. Central Connecticut, which entered the contest with a 58.7 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system, has lost two of its last three.

Long Island returns home to face New Haven on Thursday. Central Connecticut will look to rebound at home against Chicago State, also on Thursday.