Preview: Long Island Sharks at Central Connecticut Blue Devils

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — A pivotal Northeast Conference men’s basketball matchup awaits on Saturday as the Long Island Sharks visit the Central Connecticut Blue Devils at William H. Detrick Gymnasium.

The Sharks (13-8, 7-1 NEC) enter riding a wave of momentum, having won seven of their last eight games. They are coming off a dominant 83-61 home victory over Le Moyne on Thursday, where Jamal Fuller led the way with 19 points. Long Island’s conference success has been built on defensive consistency, holding opponents to an average of 62.5 points during their current three-game win streak.

Central Connecticut (11-9, 4-4), meanwhile, looks to build on a gritty 62-55 road win at Wagner that snapped a three-game skid. The Blue Devils have struggled at home in conference play, however, dropping their last two at Detrick Gym. They will seek to reverse that trend and avenge an 84-78 loss at Long Island just four weeks ago on Jan. 2.

A key matchup will feature two of the league’s standout guards. Long Island’s Jomo Goings, a player to watch, averages 12.1 points per game and is coming off a 16-point performance against Le Moyne. He scored 15 points in the January win over Central Connecticut. The Blue Devils counter with Max Frazier, who is averaging 12.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest. Frazier was held to eight points in the first meeting but is fresh off a team-high 17-point outing at Wagner.

Long Island’s balanced attack, which saw three players score in double figures in the recent win over Le Moyne, will test a Central Connecticut defense that allows 71.2 points per game. The Blue Devils will rely on Frazier and the interior presence of Ashton Reynolds, who leads the team with 1.8 blocks per game, to disrupt the Sharks’ rhythm.

With both teams jockeying for position in the tightly contested NEC standings, Saturday’s contest offers a crucial opportunity. Long Island aims to solidify its hold near the top, while Central Connecticut seeks a statement win to climb back to .500 in league play.

Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.