NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive efficiency and defensive disruption, the Central Connecticut Blue Devils delivered a commanding performance to defeat the Wagner Seahawks 84-67 in a Northeast Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at William H. Detrick Gymnasium.

The victory, witnessed by 732 fans, improved Central Connecticut to 13-10 overall, while Wagner fell to 8-14. The outcome was rarely in doubt after the opening minutes, as the Blue Devils leveraged superior shooting and a significant advantage at the free-throw line to pull away.

The most critical phase of the contest occurred late in the first half, turning a competitive game into a substantial Central Connecticut lead. With Wagner trailing 15-13 near the midway point, the Blue Devils unleashed a decisive 18-4 run over a span of just over six minutes. The surge was fueled by balanced scoring and stifling defense. Darin Smith, who finished with 25 points, and Max Frazier, who added 21, were central figures during the stretch. The run included a three-pointer from Roddy Jones, a layup from Daniel Etiosa James, and capped by another Jones three-pointer, pushing the lead to 33-17. Wagner struggled to respond, managing only a single field goal during the Blue Devils’ onslaught. The Seahawks entered halftime down 38-28, a deficit from which they would never recover.

Central Connecticut’s offensive execution was a model of efficiency. The Blue Devils shot 57.4% from the field, making 27 of 47 attempts, and were even more effective from beyond the arc, connecting on 6 of 11 three-pointers. Their most pronounced advantage came at the charity stripe, where they made 24 of 31 free throws, compared to Wagner’s 10 of 14. This disparity of 14 points at the line proved insurmountable. The Blue Devils also dominated inside, outscoring Wagner 34-22 in the paint.

Defensively, Central Connecticut was disruptive, blocking six shots and recording six steals. Frazier, a 6-foot-9 forward from Pittsboro, North Carolina, anchored that effort with three blocks to complement his team-high 21 points and seven rebounds in just 25 minutes of action. His presence altered numerous Wagner attempts near the rim.

Wagner, conversely, could not find a consistent offensive rhythm. The Seahawks shot just 37.5% from the field on 24-of-64 shooting and committed nine turnovers. While they managed nine offensive rebounds, they could not convert those second chances efficiently enough to close the gap. Eddie Placer of Wagner led all scorers with 26 points, including four three-pointers, but his effort was not enough to offset Central Connecticut’s balanced attack.

Beyond Smith and Frazier, the Blue Devils received significant contributions from Jay Rodgers, who had 14 points and five assists, and James Jones, who hauled in 11 rebounds to go with six points. Wagner’s Bryan Akanmu, from Saint-Denis, France, contributed eight points and seven rebounds.

The win continued a positive trend for Central Connecticut, which has now won three of its last four games, including a victory over the same Wagner team just over a week prior on Jan. 29. The Blue Devils also comfortably exceeded the pre-game expectations set by analytics, as Interstat’s ELO system had projected them with an 86.5% probability to win. The combined point total of 151 sailed over the sportsbook over/under line of 135.5.

Wagner, which had won two straight close games entering the contest, saw that momentum halted decisively. The Seahawks will look to regroup when they host Long Island on Thursday. Central Connecticut, meanwhile, will hit the road for its next matchup, facing New Haven on Thursday as both teams continue Northeast Conference play.